Southampton Town Highway Department Cleans Town's Mess

The Southampton Town Highway Department has been cleaning up the trash left behind by summer renters and visitors for years, but they found this year, it was worse than ever.

“We were left with a little bit of a surprise after Labor Day,” Town Highway Superintendent Alex Gregor.

What they found was garbage overflowing from trash cans and in the street.

But while the trash problem has reached an all-time high this summer, it’s still there long after summer ends.

“It’s kind of a year round thing,” Gregor said. “It’s really been since after Hurricane Sandy.”

Since then, it seems the Highway Department is finding more and more illegal dumping in the town. Some “hot spots” for this issue, according to Gregor, include; behind the East Hampton airport, the Mount MIsery area, various spots in North Sea, Red Creek area, and spots in Speonk.

His team once even found spackle buckets full of vomit left on Argonne Road in Hampton Bays several times.

“Something has to happen to make a significant change because it seems to be increasing,” Gregor said.

He is trying to fix the situation anyway he can.

Gregor and his team have been going out with gloves and searching through trash bags to try to identify some offenders. He is also looking to have cameras installed to catch the people doing these acts red-handed. Two cameras have already been donated from a Homeowners Association. However, the Town Highway’s budget of $450,000 is not enough to afford more cameras.

For now, residents are encouraged to call the Highway Department at 631-728-3600 to report anyone illegally dumping. Gregor encourages citizens to have a description of the person and where the dumping took place.

Punishment for illegally dumping can range from community service to a fine of up to $5,000.

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