Garbage at the river...just a vent!

[AskTheChief]

I live on the South side and go swimming about every other day at the river, on the beach right behind riverview park. There is almost always a ton of garbage left there. Of course it's always beer bottles and cans.

We bring a bag with us each time and pick up whatever we see and take it with us to throw away. Dh even goes as far as to use his mask and snorkel to pick up any garbage he finds IN the river.

How lazy can people be?! I love it there because it feels like I had to drive two hours away to get out to nature, like I'm camping, when it really takes about two minutes. I have never actually SEEN anyone leave garbage so who is doing it? The bonfire "garbage" doesn't bother me at all, it's just wood. It's the ciggy butts and bottles and cans.

This past weekend, someone even went as far as to throw their bottles against the big rock (that people often jump from), right near the shallow beach area where most of the little kids play. A woman I spoke to said she spent 45 min. picking up as much broken glass as she could in the morning and then spent much of her time there warning people of the tiny shards she probably didn't see. It's just such a pointless and crappy thing to do! It's really not that hard to take your trash with you!

I guess venting here is probably pointless as I'm sure whoever is doing it doesn't post here, if they're even able to READ! Vent over.

Oh shoot, I'm getting old, aren't I

[BethB]

Must be inconsiderate morons....

[LisaT]

I think that's become a great party place for this summer. In the evening when I'm walking my dogs, you can see the kids load up in a back of a truck and go down there to party. Or sometimes I see them coming out. I do hope that they aren't lighting bonfires back there too......

I honestly wouldn't care about the partying, but I see the damage when I walk down there in daylight hours. It's just terrible....and dangerous for dog paws....

AskTheChief, I guess we're both getting old....

[Matthew]

I don't head over to that area all that often, but I might need to start to with camera in hand. I am sure whoever is doing it does not want their picture posted for all to see.

[LisaT]

When the seasons are changing, you can get some great shots in that area too.....during summer, it's pretty bland, unless you're there at that perfect instant when the lighting changes things up a bit.

[AskTheChief]

We (dh and I and the kids) go there almost every other day if time allows (my kids are part duck, I think). I see other parents bring coolers with beer (and we do on occasion as well), but they take their garbage with them and they aren't lighting bonfires and smaching bottles on the rocks.

The parties must only happen at night (I always see evidence of bonfires and they seem to do an ok job burying them, but my mom once burnt her foot when she accidentally walked on one.). I thought about putting a trash can with a friendly reminder to throw your garbage away, but they would probably destroy it just to spite me.

[Wilbur]

One factor, if not a dominant one, is that beer-drinking teens are probably averse to getting busted hauling out empties. Some might use a trash receptacle. Others doubtless are sociopathic idiots who would refuse to. But it might mitigate it.

I seem to recall the same conversation a decade or so ago, and some objecting that putting out a can for them to toss their empties into would "legitimize" their behavior. I don't buy that.

[Wilbur]

I was trying to find the old thread where we were discussing whether RMA should adopt new ordinances against things that are already illegal, like smoking pot, but can't find it. But since this one is active...

This recent Supreme Court case explains why a local government can't constitutionally adopt its own ordinances which duplicate a state law.

http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/opinions...ts/S135160.PDF

[nana]

Wil, can you explain a bit more about why "local" ordinances cannot be enacted if they duplicate State law? Does that mean any state law is enforceable by a local governing agency?

[Mama Mia]

Originally Posted by Wilbur

One factor, if not a dominant one, is that beer-drinking teens are probably averse to getting busted hauling out empties. Some might use a trash receptacle. Others doubtless are sociopathic idiots who would refuse to. But it might mitigate it.

I seem to recall the same conversation a decade or so ago, and some objecting that putting out a can for them to toss their empties into would "legitimize" their behavior. I don't buy that.

Your kidding!!!!! I don't buy that either!!!! I'm doubting it would do any good to furnish them with a "can" anyway. Have you ever gone down to the gazebo after the kids have gathered there and before RMA maintenance could clean it up? I have and its disgusting...broken bottles, Burger King containers thrown all over the place and occasionally a "roach" or two.....not nice......