Porthole owner decries illegal dumping at Lynnway site

LYNN – An unidentified person was caught on tape illegally dumping material in a dumpster outside of the Porthole Pub Wednesday night.Robert Gaudet, owner of the pub at 98 Lynnway said the restaurant’s surveillance camera captured the incident, including the vehicle’s license plate number.”A female manager saw the truck pull up twice and put tires, rubbish and carpet in the dumpsters,” he said. “She was nervous to say anything to the driver, plus it’s not her job to do so.”Gaudet said he assumed it was just someone trying to save a buck.”You know, I pay high taxes here, and I spend a couple thousand dollars a month to have the rubbish picked up,” he said. “The city doesn’t pick up my trash, whereas a guy in a three family home in the city takes it for granted.”Illegal dumping reportedly happens a few times a year at the eatery according to Gaudet, who said there might have been a few more incidents in the past that restaurant personnel are not aware of.According to a police report, Gaudet said a person in a black pick up truck was seen dumping bags of trash and two tires in the restaurant’s dumpster on Wednesday between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m.Police were provided with the vehicle’s license plate number, and the incident is now under investigation.Lynn police Lt. Dave Brown said with the warmer weather approaching and people doing spring cleaning, a spike in illegal dumping could be seen.”In the past, illegal dumping has been prevalent at locations along and off of the Lynnway,” he said. “Video cameras which were strategically set up have helped catch offenders. I’m sure this will continue to be an effective tool.”Police said illegal dumping typically occurs when an unscrupulous individual or company provides a construction service and then illegally dumps the materials.The disposal fee charged to the client is often pocketed as additional profit. The homeowner then becomes frustrated because trash removal did not accept an item, and in an attempt to save a few dollars, he or she illegally dumps it.Police said another possible situation could occur when trash is placed in front of another person’s home or in a city waste receptacle, knowing that it contains potentially hazardous materials.In addition to the city ordinance, Massachusetts law prohibits trash from being disposed of on public or private property.Brown said the fine for a first offense is $5,500 and $15,000 for each subsequent offense.Items such as demolition waste, chemicals, paints, oils, propane tanks, refrigerators, computer monitors, batteries, and car tires all contain chemicals which are potentially harmful to people and the environment and should be disposed of in the correct manner.For questions regarding the proper disposal of such items, contact Jay Fink at 781-477-7090.If an illegal dumping is witnessed, please contact the Lynn police at 781-595-2000.Any additional information such as the make and model of the suspect’s vehicle, license plate number, company name or markings on the vehicle would assist police in their search.