Honestly, that number doesn't surprise me at all. People are really worried about stuff like that in their own backyard. It's a local issue that hits home for a lot of folks who aren't even following you. The algorithm probably picked it up and pushed it out to anyone searching about town news or waste stuff. Views don't always mean active followers, just that it caught people's attention for a minute.
The town council meeting minutes from last month show only three people spoke about the waste site. @the_alice, I get what you're saying about the algorithm, but those search numbers feel like curiosity, not deep worry. Most folks I know are more bothered by the potholes on Maple Street than anything buried out past the old mill.
But if the algorithm is pushing it to people who search for town news, doesn't that mean the worry is already there? They're looking for it. So the views aren't just random, they're a sign of a real local fear. What does it say about our town if that's what people are digging for?