It’s a question I often find myself asking: Why do people dump garbage in our community when the Town of Brookhaven already provides the services to properly dispose of it?
Living in Mastic Beach, I’ve made it a habit to take early morning bicycle rides through the quiet roads along our shoreline. These waterfront streets are some of the most scenic parts of our community, offering peaceful views and reminding me why so many of us love living here.
Unfortunately, for many years these same secluded roads had another reputation — they were frequent dumping grounds.
Mattresses, broken furniture, construction debris, bags of trash, and household junk would often appear overnight along these streets. Because these areas are less traveled, they became easy targets for people looking to avoid the responsibility of properly disposing of their waste.
For a long time, illegal dumping along these roads felt like an epidemic.
Signs of Progress
Thankfully, something has noticeably changed over the past couple of years.
During many of my recent bike rides, it has become far less common to see piles of garbage scattered along these waterfront roads. Streets that once seemed to attract dumping week after week are now staying clean.
One possible reason for this improvement may be the surveillance cameras that were installed on several of these roads last year. If that’s the case, the cameras appear to be doing exactly what they were intended to do. When people know they might be held accountable, the temptation to treat quiet neighborhoods like a free landfill disappears quickly.
While the problem hasn’t completely disappeared, the improvement is encouraging and shows that progress can happen when attention is brought to the issue.
But the bigger question still remains: why was it happening in the first place?
One possible reason for this improvement may be the surveillance cameras that were installed on several of these roads last year. If that’s the case, the cameras appear to be doing exactly what they were intended to do. When people know they might be held accountable, the temptation to treat quiet neighborhoods like a free landfill disappears quickly.
While the problem hasn’t completely disappeared, the improvement is encouraging and shows that progress can happen when attention is brought to the issue.
But the bigger question still remains: why was it happening in the first place?
There Is No Excuse for Illegal Dumping
One of the most frustrating aspects of illegal dumping is that residents already pay for sanitation services through their taxes.
The Town of Brookhaven provides extensive waste disposal and recycling services designed specifically to help residents properly dispose of unwanted items.
These services include regular garbage collection, recycling programs, and special pickups for larger household items that cannot fit in regular trash containers.
Residents can arrange disposal for items such as:
- Appliances
- Scrap metal
- Large household items
- Bulk garbage that cannot fit in standard containers
In many cases, these items can simply be placed at the curb and scheduled for pickup through the town’s sanitation services.
Brookhaven also operates recycling programs and waste management services that give residents responsible ways to dispose of materials rather than abandoning them along the roadside.
Simply put, the services already exist — and residents are already paying for them.
Contact Brookhaven Sanitation Services
If you have large items that need to be removed or questions about garbage collection, the Town of Brookhaven provides resources to help residents dispose of waste properly.
Brookhaven Recycling & Garbage Services
Address
1 Independence Hill
Farmingville, NY 11738
Phone
631-451-8696
Resident Service Line
631-451-TOWN (8696)
Residents can call to schedule pickups, ask about recycling programs, or get guidance on how to properly dispose of larger items.
Taking advantage of these services helps keep our neighborhoods clean and prevents unnecessary dumping.
Respecting the Community We Share
Mastic Beach is a waterfront community filled with natural beauty, quiet neighborhoods, and residents who take pride in where they live.
When someone dumps garbage on a roadside or in a wooded area, they aren’t just creating an eyesore — they are disrespecting the community and the neighbors who live there.
Illegal dumping also costs taxpayers money because town crews must be sent out to remove debris that never should have been there in the first place.
Keeping our community clean should not depend on cameras alone. It should come from something much simpler: basic respect for the place we all call home.
A Thank You to Local Leaders
It’s also important to recognize the people who continue working to support and advocate for Mastic Beach.
A sincere thank you goes out to Dan Panico, Supervisor of the Town of Brookhaven, and Karen Dunne Kesnig for their continued dedication to the residents of Mastic Beach and the surrounding communities.
Both have consistently shown that they care deeply about the communities they represent. Whether it’s addressing local concerns, supporting improvements in our neighborhoods, or ensuring residents have access to important town services, their commitment to the community is appreciated.
Public service often involves a great deal of work behind the scenes, and that effort deserves recognition.
On behalf of residents who appreciate a clean and well-maintained community, thank you for being there when Mastic Beach needs you. Your continued support and advocacy do not go unnoticed.
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