After a presentation by Andrew R. Pelletier, director of development and inspectional services, board Chairman Doreen M. Goodrich said, “This has opened our eyes.”
Mr. Pelletier presented photographs of what he called “intentional dumping” of waste carpets, furniture, electronics, appliances, tires and other bulk items, “which tend to run the trash bill way up,” as well as containers of hazardous waste. He said “rude and disrespectful” people leave trash in desolate places, at the end of dead-end streets and in local wetlands.
He cited one case in which he found the identification of a Cape Cod resident who had dumped a load of trash at the end of Hardscrabble Road.
He said donation boxes and trash bins are also used to illegally dispose of unwanted furniture and other waste.
Mrs. Goodrich said she had counted 36 donation boxes in town.
In other cases of “misguided intentions,” Mr. Pelletier said, some residents tend to store “a good piece of equipment I can fix” many times over, filling their yards with junk equipment.
He also focused the board’s attention on nuisance properties, such as vacant buildings that can be in dangerous disrepair.
“It can be very hard to find the owners,” he said, and showed photographs of several collapsing buildings, some accessible to vagrants. One photograph showed a used hypodermic
“Health and safety are our primary concern. Nuisance is our secondary concern,” he said.
Mr. Pelletier said he hoped to make a proposal at the May annual town meeting to establish a revolving account to be used to control illegal dumping and nuisance properties.
He also recommended that anyone who needs help disposing of unwanted items visit the town’s Public Health Division website at town.auburn.ma.us and look under “How to dispose of special wastes.”
He also asked that anyone who sees illegal dumping taking place immediately dial 911 and, if safe, take a photograph of the license plate so illegal dumpers can be found and fined.
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