'Disturbing' Illegal Dumping Increase In Milford: Police

MILFORD, MA — Milford police are cracking down on illegal dumping, which the department says has risen noticeably over the past year.

Anyone caught dumping illegally will be fined the maximum allowed under state law, the department said Monday.

“Over the course of the last year, we’ve seen a disturbing rise in illegal dumping on public land and private property,” the department said Monday. “We would like to remind our community and its visitors that illegal dumping is a crime. A first time offender could be fined up to $5,500. In an effort to keep Milford beautiful, we intend to charge all offenders.”

But the punishments can escalate rapidly, according to state law. Each illegal dumping offense after the first carries a $15,000 fine — that means you could be fined $35,500 if caught dumping illegally three times on public land, conservation lands or within 20 yards of water.

If the police catch you using a vehicle to dump 7 cubic feet of trash, your vehicle can be seized. Offenders are also required to clean up and dispose anything they are caught dumping. Those same fines go for anyone caught littering, not just for people dumping large items like tires and furniture.

If recent litter cleanups in Milford are any indication, police have fertile ground to find illegal dumpers: Citizens for Milford reported picking up 13 truckloads during one recent Earth Day event.