Dorchester church dumps trash near Saugus school

SAUGUS – A church in Dorchester is in hot water with the town of Saugus after Solid Waste and Recycling Coordinator Lorna Cerbone said bags of trash were illegally dumped at a local school.Cerbone said around 25 bags of garbage were found late last week along Dow Street near the Belmonte Middle School soccer field containing yard waste and leftovers from a pasta dinner.The giveaway, said Cerbone, were the numerous pamphlets for Christ the King Church in Dorchester.?They paid an individual to take care of their waste,” said Cerbone. “But people who generate trash need to understand it?s their responsibility.”Pastor Daniel Rogers runs Christ the King and on Tuesday said he leases out space at the church from the Boston Seventh Day Adventist Church, which he said is supposed to take care of trash pickup.?They actually own the space,” said Rogers. “We put our trash in the dumpster there and we just assume it will be taken care of. Part of our lease agreement with them is that there is trash removal. They?re basically our landlord.”Rogers said he was surprised to hear trash from his church wound up in Saugus, noting around “90 percent” of his congregation lives in Dorchester.?I don?t think I even know anyone in Saugus,” said Rogers. “I know we have a dumpster service so it?s shocking this would happen. As a pastor that?s not something you get everyday. To get a call from the town of Saugus was pretty shocking, but I was thankful.”Representatives from the Seventh Day Adventist Church could not be reached Tuesday.Cerbone said she issued a $200 fine for the violation, and noted the area near the Belmonte Middle School isn?t a popular spot for illegal dumping.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].