Deer Carcasses, Household Waste Dumped Near Creek At Lawrence Shopping Center

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — Township officials are investigating illegal dumping at a commercial property near a creek, after a resident complaint prompted a multi-department response and coordination with state environmental regulators.

The Township received an email from a concerned resident on March 2, reporting debris on a strip of land between the parking lot at the Lawrence Shopping Center — adjacent to the Burlington store — and a nearby creek. The complaint was acknowledged the same day, and both the Health Department and Police Department were assigned to investigate.

The resident later repeated the concerns during public comment at the March 3 Township Council meeting. Officials subsequently confirmed the conditions described.

The investigation found that debris at the site came from multiple sources, including household refuse, commercial waste, and deer carcasses that appeared to have been field-dressed elsewhere before being dumped at the location.

Township officials notified the private commercial property owner, who dispatched a cleaning crew to assess the site and begin cleanup. The owner has committed to a sustained cleanup effort to remove all debris from the area between the parking lot and the creek.

The Township's Health Inspector has filed a report with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The NJDEP is expected to assign a field investigator to review site conditions and determine whether additional environmental action is required.

The property owner has also agreed to work with the Township's Zoning Officer to install a fence along the parking lot boundary, add signage, and potentially install security cameras to deter future dumping. The Lawrence Township Police Department will increase patrols at the site during late-night hours.

Officials also learned that commercial vehicles had been using the rear portion of the parking lot as a staging area during the recent winter storm. The property owner has said a request will be made to have those vehicles removed.

Township officials said they have kept the resident who filed the initial complaint informed throughout the investigation.

Mayor Christopher Bobbitt praised the response in a statement. "Although the information that the resident shared with Township Council is distressing, I am proud of the rapid response of our professional Township staff as well as the willingness of the commercial property owner to work to address the issue of illegal dumping and protect our natural resources," Bobbitt said.

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