Illegal Dumping In Worcester: Cameras Coming To City Hotspots

WORCESTER, MA — If the sight of trash dumped along roads, in parks and any other place in Worcester upsets you, there might be some relief coming.

Worcester will use an $84,500 state grant to purchase several surveillance cameras that will be used to monitor popular trash dump sites across the city. John Odell, head of the Department of Sustainability and Resilience, said the cameras will help police and the Inspectional Services Department capture illegal dumpers in the act.

"Inspectional Services has identified areas of repeated illegal dumping and will regularly monitor the cameras to identify offenders. These cameras will also be able to be moved to different locations as needed, so their impact will be widespread," Odell wrote in a memo sent to city council this week.

Under city ordinances, illegal dumping carries a $200 minimum fine per offense. But fines can be as high as $2,000 if the city takes an offender to court. Even with such high potential fines, Worcester sees plenty of illegal dumping, often in parks or more secluded areas like Granite Street.

The cameras will be paid for from proceeds from the state Recycling Dividends Program. In addition to the illegal dumping cameras, Odell says the grant funds will be used to do community outreach about the city's waste programs. That outreach will come in the form of flyers and brochures, and setting up tables at larger community events.

If you live in Worcester and need to offload trash or bulky items, here's how to do it:

Residential drop-off center — Residents can drop off recyclable items at the facility at 1065 Millbury St. year-round. Bulky waste like appliances or tires can be dropped off April through November, but an appointment is required. Casella Waste Systems provides curbside bulk waste pickup, with different fees depending on the items.

Helpsy — Worcester recently began offering free textile recycling through Helpsy, which accepts all types of clothing items, shoes and even luggage. Home pickups can be scheduled here.

Superior Waste — The Kansas Street transfer station is open year-round for residents to drop off pretty much any type of household trash at 14 cents per pound. Superior Waste does charge standalone fees for items like mattresses and tires. The business also offers home pickup.