Driving all the way down Central Street in Bay Roberts, one will eventually come across a fairly large, empty lot adorned with signs that clearly reads “No Dumping.”
However, it may also be difficult not to notice the black bags decorating the ground near the signs, which may lead some to believe that residents are not following the rules set out by those signs.
Rodney Mercer of Bay Roberts is one of those people.
Mercer lives on Central Street, and worries that the site is being used for the wrong purposes.
“It’s not a nice sight to have just down the road from my house,” Mercer told The Compass. “The signs clearly say no dumping, but it’s not hard to tell there are people disobeying that rule.”
A quick glance at the site would suggest that Mercer is right — black bags, often used for garbage, can be seen on the site, not far from the signs advising against the dumping of garbage.
However, Mayor Phillip Wood explained to The Compass that the site is designated for people to drop off leaves and other mulch to be picked up by the town.
“It’s where people can drop off bags of leaves and other things like that. Mostly, it’s leaves people are putting there,” Wood said. “We have another spot in town for people to place things like porcelain, so I hope people aren’t getting the two confused.”
Wood admitted that it was possible that residents are using the site to dump things other than mulch, but he himself has not seen it.
“I’ll certainly be watching the site a bit more closely, just to make sure. It’s important that dumping sites are used properly, and if this one isn’t, then that could be a problem,” added Wood.
Mercer told The Compass he’s seen larger garbage being dumped at the site, including old mattresses, and that he hopes to shed some light on the issue.
“We’re all tax paying citizens of Bay Roberts,” said Mercer, “and I think we have a right to know what’s going on, and how things are being used, and if they’re being used properly. I don’t think this site is being used properly.”
The site’s entrance is decorated with a couple of signs stating the site is to not be used for dumping, though one sign does explain that the site is to be used for disposing of leaves and mulch.
