DOYLESTOWN, Pa.-A Pennsylvania judge has ordered the owner of a scrap tire recycling business to clean up the pile of used tires at a Richland Township site. Bucks County Common Pleas Judge Edward Biester Jr. ruled Daniel J. Carr in contempt of court July 29 for failing to remove an estimated 280,000 used tires from the property .
Carr, who had operated Tire Technologies out of Quakertown, Pa., claimed he didn't have the money to remove the tires. But the township presented evidence to the court that Carr has $4.2 million in assets hidden in real estate holdings or distributed among family members, said Richland Solicitor William McCarthy.
The judge believed (Carr) has the present ability to pay,'' said McCarthy.
Neither Carr nor his attorney, Christopher Asplen, could be reached for comment.
Biester has given Carr until Sept. 30 to come up with the entire $200,000 needed to clean up the tires, or $25,000 and a payment plan for the remainder. About 167,000 tires are left on the property because the owner, who had planned to sell the property to Carr, had disposed of some of the tires himself, McCarthy said.
Carr began storing, baling and shredding tires at the Richland location-formerly a brick yard-about three years ago without getting the township's necessary approval, McCarthy said.
The township filed suit about two years ago to stop the tire operation, saying it was a hazard.
Carr also faces felony charges of risking catastrophe and conspiracy in Philadelphia.