By Guy Page
Black garbage bags filled with human feces have been left repeatedly by person(s) unknown off the Long Trail near its Winooski River pedestrian bridge, and the Town of Bolton wants it to stop.
Town officials don’t know who’s doing it, although they suspect it’s someone with a failed septic system. They’re not looking to prosecute, they just want it to stop and the guilty party to ask them for help solving their problem.
On May 4, the town received an email with photos attached from the Green Mountain Club (GMC), noting that one of GMC’s Long Trail adopters had discovered dozens of black garbage bags thrown over the guardrail along Duxbury Road adjacent to the Long Trail and near the GMC’s Winooski pedestrian bridge, town officials reported on the Bolton Facebook page.
Further investigation revealed that the dozens of black plastic bags contained human feces and toilet paper.
“Our thanks to the GMC for mobilizing 10 volunteers who spent hours cleaning up the 400+ pounds of feces and toilet paper,” the official said. “In their words: ‘Gross.’”
The Bolton Select Board, Town Health Officer and Conservation Commission were made aware of the situation, and although multiple conversations ensued, the only solutions identified were to alert all area residents and to perhaps install temporary signs about this issue.
Town officials determined that game cameras would not work well in this situation.
“We all hoped that the dumping had stopped,” the official said on the FB post. “It hasn’t. Black garbage bags filled with human feces and large amounts of toilet paper continue to be dumped in the same vicinity on Duxbury Road. Some of the bags are being dragged off by animals, ripped open, and their contents spewed onto folks’ properties.”
The Town posted the matter on Facebook because “we want everyone to be aware of this situation, as it is extremely concerning on multiple levels including environmentally and with respect to personal health and safety.” The town offices can be reached at (802) 434-5075.