Lanesborough Considers Bylaw Against LitterBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
11:30AM / Wednesday, December 17, 2025 | |
 A sign on Swamp Road warns there's a $200 fine for littering but the town has no bylaw that would allow its implementation. |
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The town is considering a bylaw against littering after reports of people dumping trash on the roadside.
Last week, Police Chief Robert Derksen and Department of Public Works Director Nate Fenwick reported the need for a formal regulation to the Select Board. Fenwick said his department has picked up whole truckloads of trash next to roadways, and while sometimes the litterer can be located from their contents, the town's hands are tied when it comes to enforcement.
"With not having any bylaw for this, it just makes it really difficult for us to get a handle on this," he said.
Derksen said Lanesborough would be better off solidifying a broader local bylaw with a fine to deter this behavior.
Massachusetts law prohibits littering on public highways, public lands, private property of another, or in or near coastal or inland waters. Derksen said these laws are "very specific," and have to be in accordance with a bylaw, which the town doesn't have.
"I'm not sure what I would fine them," the chief explained.
He said Dalton's bylaw is a great example. It stipulates that "No person shall throw, sweep, rake, blow, or deposit litter or rubbish in or upon any street, sidewalk, treebelt or other public place within the Town, except in public receptacles for that purpose, authorized private receptacles for collection or in an official Town disposal area."
Dalton fines people up to $300 for littering.
Town Administrator Gina Dario said as they begin to put the warrant together for the 2026 annual town meeting, the Select Board could review draft language for a bylaw inspired by that of another community.
"Obviously, this doesn't sit with any particular committee. This would be something that could be directed by the Select Board to include for a town meeting vote," she said.
There is a sign on Swamp Road that warns of a $200 fine for littering, but it doesn't have any teeth.
Fenwick said he and Derksen have discussed a few different bylaws they would like to add more depth to.
In other news, Jeff Murach was appointed as the DPW foreman during the meeting.
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