Litter

[Brad]

You know what really grinds my gears.... Litter!

Not sure what's going on, but the litter in this town is getting really bad lately! Are people Lazy, stupid, something else? Its not just one part of town either, its everywhere. Its like people are literally throwing bags of trash out their windows at red lights and parking lots!

This morning I was in the Gene Leahy Mall at 6an and there was litter everywhere. The park staff had it all cleaned up by 7 or 8. There are trash cans every 10' in that park!

A couple of the bridges downtown have trash everywhere under them where the homeless are littering.

Out west, around some apartment complexes, trash everywhere where people park in the street.

Gas Station parking lots, where trash cans are at every pump and by the door, trash on the ground.

Schools where kids should be learning not to litter, but no shortage of litter.

I just don't get it...

[Flyer14]

We go for walks and runs all over town, and I mean all over. My gripe is the dog s**t everywhere. In the yards, right off the sidewalk, or on the side walk! I can't believe how many baggies of poop get left lying around too, like you did the job of picking it up just throw it away!

[ChadJK]

Not to explain it away as most of it is just slob behavior.. However...

One of the problems is business not emptying their trashcans. Ever stop at a gas station and go to throw something away and you can't even fit it in the trashcan? That happens to lots of people and so they just set it on top of the overflowing trashcan and, of course, away it blows.

Other times it's the lack of trashcans. They've finished their drink, or their snack, or picking up their dog's poop, or finished blowing their nose and now they want to dispose of whatever as they walk down the sidewalk and there's nowhere to do so. Eventually, the annoyance of carrying the trash around overpowers their aversion to littering and it gets dropped or set somewhere inappropriate where it's going to fall or blow away. More touristy areas like Old Market and various parks are great at providing public trashcans, but most of the rest of the city has none.

What's really cringy is when their vehicles are so full of trash that they struggle to get in or out of them without trash falling out as they do so.

[nativeomahan]

My home in Omaha adjoins a fairly busy 4 lane street, with a sidewalk I am at least morally responsible for caring for. It is terribly frustrating to go out there and virtually every day see all the broken beer bottles (usually malt liquor), fast food sacks (some with enclosed credit card receipts), tiny liquor bottles, plastic straws, and other assorted trash people just toss out their car windows. I presume most of this happens at night. People walk their dogs on the sidewalk and the broken glass is obviously a health hazard, and the half eaten burgers and tacos attract rodents and god knows what else. I was raised to never, ever litter. It’s my city and I want it to be clean. Why on earth don’t other people feel the same way?
In fairness, I see the very same thing — only worse — in Puerto Vallarta. It’s just disgusting.
End of rant.

[WorldStreet]

Each year when I return back to the US in July, I notice things that seem to be different than before and contemplate whether these changes are real or just that I got older and notice things differently now. As stated in previous posts, I also notice more litter than I did in pervious years. Although my yard was maintained, I was a bit shocked by the amount of dog waste in my yard, most of it recent. I also noticed that so many people have dogs now.

This past spring, we spent a month in Japan, which interestingly enough is known for both being very clean and having few trash bins. Most people carry their personal trash with them in their backpacks until they return home.

[Athomsfere]

This past spring, we spent a month in Japan, which interestingly enough is known for both being very clean and having few trash bins. Most people carry their personal trash with them in their backpacks until they return home.

Japan and Hawaii always come to mind when I think of clean cities.

Also, I have never understood where the "no trash bins" in Japan comes from. Konbinis have them, most vending machines have one. And you're almost never far from at least one of each.

Roppongi being maybe the exception. But man I hate Roppongi. I've seen trach bins in the middle of a forest and the top of mountains, just randomly chilling in the middle of nowhere.

[WorldStreet]

This past spring, we spent a month in Japan, which interestingly enough is known for both being very clean and having few trash bins. Most people carry their personal trash with them in their backpacks until they return home.

Japan and Hawaii always come to mind when I think of clean cities.

Also, I have never understood where the "no trash bins" in Japan comes from. Konbinis have them, most vending machines have one. And you're almost never far from at least one of each.

Roppongi being maybe the exception. But man I hate Roppongi. I've seen trach bins in the middle of a forest and the top of mountains, just randomly chilling in the middle of nowhere.

We are more familiar with the Osaka area, as I've only been to Roppangi in Tokyo once or twice, and that was years ago. My impression is that there is more space between trash bins and that they are less prominant and smaller. Our time in the "country-side" hiking and walking was mostly to the south of Osaka in the prefecture of Wakayama.

[Athomsfere]

We are more familiar with the Osaka area, as I've only been to Roppangi in Tokyo once or twice, and that was years ago. My impression is that there is more space between trash bins and that they are less prominant and smaller. Our time in the "country-side" hiking and walking was mostly to the south of Osaka in the prefecture of Wakayama.

The countryside I was remembering was Shikoku, but also some of Kansai. I remember Arashiyama having some.

I think not prominent might be it. The sidewalks have enough action you don't really want trash cans just right there in the middle of everything. But Osaka is a lot like Tokyo. If you don't see a trashcan, walk a block for a konbini or vending machine, there is almost always one there.

I even just did a random street view person drop in Osaka. I had to "walk" two blocks for a bin.
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.6821016 ... ?entry=ttu

[WorldStreet]

In the late 1990's, I taught English in Japan for 2 1/2 years, and visited occasionally after that from Shanghai. However, I've never been off the main island of Honshu. I hope to check out Shikoku someday soon, as well as Hokkaido. The only thing stopping me is my fear of not finding a trash can. I'd love to hear your recommendations for Shikoku.

[guy4omaha]

Not denying that we all need to do much better with litter. I don't get it either. But some of it is windblown from dumpsters, accidents, etc. So this part of the litter chain needs better management too.