The bridge on Arcola Road that crosses French Creek east of Demopolis is becoming a favorite place for people to illegally dump trash. There’s a mattress frame, a hot water heater and many other pieces of trash often hidden in the brush.

When someone reports an illegal dumping, John Bell, solid waste enforcement officer for Marengo County, must begin a criminal investigation. He said he must go through the trash with “a fine tooth comb” looking for a piece of mail or receipt that might reveal the name of the culprit.

The French Creek site used to be popular for fishing, he said, and trash would be left there after the activity was over. Mattresses have also been known to be dumped there.

Bell does not have a staff to clean up the illegal county sites so he dependent on finding the culprit and making them perform the cleanup.

Illegally dumping trash in Marengo County can bring as much as 90 days in jail and a $500 fine. Bell is more concerned with getting the sites cleaned than putting someone in jail.

There is also a problem with people dumping trash behind the Alabama Power sub-station on Arcola. The Demopolis Public Safety Director Jeff Manual has pledged to patrol that site, Bell said.

Some positive news this year was the decrease in illegal dumping during the hunting season, he said. Hunters from out of the county will often leave piles of trash at camp houses.

If you see someone illegally dumping trash in Marengo County, call Bell at 1-334-295-2235.