Mattresses, couches, refrigerators, and garage doors - these are some items popping up more and more on the sides of roads in Liberty.
More people are illegally dumping, according to road crews, which is now leading to problems.
According to the Liberty Public Works Department, things have gotten worse in the last three to four years.
"I don't think people care as much as they used to," explained Public Works Manager Bob Blackburn.
Blackburn said as a result of the illegal dumping, road crews are now having to be rerouted from street projects in order to help pick up the items.
"Any time you have to take people off to pick up trash, it's cutting down on one thing and having them spend it somewhere else," he explained. "I could use three or four more people just to pick up trash every day from roadsides."
Every year, Liberty holds cleanup weeks where residents can leave large items on the curb for pickup. The cleanup events serve as a way for people to avoid illegal dumping, but Blackburn said more people are turning to leaving the items in desolate places, like fields.
"I guess too many people have pickups," he said. "It's easier to go down a gravel road and throw it out."
Residents like Margaret James continue to try and clean up the area.
James has lived in Liberty for 40 years, and every day she picks up trash from the ground.
"It's just an easy thing to do when you walk," James explained. "I seldom ever take a walk without a sack."
James said over the years she has found checks, a gold watch, bullets and "unmentionable items." However, the larger trash items are too tough for her to pick up.
"I just feel sorry for people that don't have a sense of pride. I really do," James said. "People shouldn't do that. We teach our children at school to be neat and pick things up. It's silly the adults have to be so stupid."
James noticed many people dumped big items on an abandoned road near her home. As a result, James called city leaders. The road is now blocked off with barriers to cut down on dumping.
"It's pathetic. Absolutely pathetic," she said.
Liberty holds its next cleanup week from April 25 to 29.
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Tom Dempsey can be reached at tom.dempsey@kshb.com.
