SHREWSBURY, Mass. - Shrewsbury Police and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection are sending a clear message - they’re serious about stopping illegal dumping and violators will be charged.

"In this case, we identified the individuals, gave the information to Detective [Michael] Cappucci in Shrewsbury, and they would contact the individual and basically issue a summons under 27716 to appear to court to answer for charges," said Timothy Dame, an environmental inspector for MassDEP.

Dame said Bow Street in Shrewsbury has been a site of illegal dumping for decades. The state set up hidden cameras to catch people in the act, some dumping trash, furniture and construction materials.

Current and former residents said it's disappointing it's gone on for so many years.

"It comes and goes," Dan Chatten said. "They're times when back probably back 15-plus years ago where Shrewsbury did set up surveillance to try to catch people and it just seems to have raised, come to the surface with more and more people." 

"It's a very nice little town and for people who live here," said Prosbert Arrey. "You would think you would want to take care of your own area, but we just don't understand why people keep doing that."

Illegal dumping happens in many communities. Dame said Worcester also has a reserve water supply in the Bow Street area, so dumping in there could contaminate clean drinking water.

He said people may see the area as an easy target.

"I think it's proximity to several main roads and the fact that they're no houses there," Dame said. "It's very quiet at night. There's just, we see some bobcats in the area but that's about it. So it's very dark and quiet. People can get out of there very quietly without anyone seeing them."

The state said three cases of illegal dumping here are already resolved with fines and cleanup actions, while the cases of another nine individuals are pending in court.