Township workers spend more than 400 hours annually
picking up illegally dumped debris and litter
By:Alec Moore
Public Works workers made a cool, if not unsightly, discovery last week.
A large, dilapidated white refrigerator was found on the side of Valley Road, between Farm Road and the railroad crossings, with an ominous warning for whomever dumped it there.
Scribbled on the side of the refrigerator in black magic marker was an eerie message written by someone who apparently did not appreciate the presence of the refrigerator on the side of the road.
The message threatened that if the person who dumped the refrigerator did not remove it immediately then his, or her, license plate would be printed on the refrigerator for all passers-by to see and then forwarded to the police.
Deputy Public Works Director Buck Sixt indicated that such findings minus the warning are all too common in Hillsborough.
"Dirt roads are always a major attraction," said Mr. Sixt, who pointed out that the township’s DPW has discovered pieces of abandoned furniture, large appliances and all sorts of junk and scrap along the town’s more obscure, less traveled roads.
"There’s quite a problem with people dumping in the area, we’re constantly picking stuff up," Mr. Sixt said, who noted that DPW workers spend an average of eight hours a week cleaning up litter and roadside scrap.
Mr. Sixt said Hillsborough’s dirt roads and remote back roads, including Orchard Drive, Homestead Road and Pleasantview Road, are popular for dumping because of their desolate locales which are generally out of sight of anyone who might spot them unloading their unwanted bulk materials.
Mr. Sixt added that, in addition to dirt roads, wide open spaces have also become a prevalent site for disposing of unwanted goods.
"Nobody wants the stuff on their property so they just toss it," he said, citing areas near the Green Hills development off Dukes Parkway East and the Royce Brook development off Amwell Road as being among the worst open space areas where scrap and debris are deposited.
Township Health Officer Glen Belnay indicated that dumping and widespread littering throughout Hillsborough is a pervasive problem.
"We try to keep the area as clean and as well kept as possible," said Dr. Belnay who expressed that the township’s fight against litterbugs is an uphill battle. "We try to heighten public awareness, but roadside litter is just a persistent problem and it certainly doesn’t present a nice image for the community," he added. "It’s a shame, but I guess that’s the world we live in."
Town officials urge residents to dispose of large scrap appropriately by contacting a private disposal company or transporting the goods to Bridgewater Resources Inc. on Polhemus Lane in Bridgewater. Individuals found guilty of violating the township’s littering ordinances face a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to 90 days imprisonment.

