I would like to ask people if they could help keep the rivers clean. Every time I go down to the river any where it is like a dumping ground of beer cans and trash of all kinds.These places along the rivers they do not have to let people in so that they can fish or hunt or just go for a walk.I do not know what is wrong with any person that would leave their trash behind.But man o man can you hear them cry when everyone closes off access to the rivers or a fishing pond.If anyone want to help me stop it and help clean it up please let me know.Thank

It makes me sick to.There has been many places closed for the same reason.When I was a kid there was a game warden that came down the dike every night,And your area had better be picked up.I have'nt seen a warden patrol the dike for a long time now,And heard the warden for our area lives in jordan.WTH! I was behind the pumping plant one day and some A-hole dumped shingles,Paint cans,And some other rubbish.Instead of fishing we picked the place up.Under the train bridge it looks like a DUMP!Why they don't have a bear proof garbage cans at fishing sites along the river,I don't know.Something needs to happen to these people who don't respect the rivers.

Best commercial...ever.
FH

My kids, I and my boy freind go down there and pick things up all the time. It was a punishment idea when it started, but now they race to see who can fill the bags the fastest and to see how many bags they can get. So there are others that are out there that are trying to do what is right.... There just aren't enough of them!

I agree, clean up after yourselfs!

Has anyone been to Mathews Park lately. Someone decided to dump a load of sheet rock down there. It makes me sick.

I've noticed the junk dumped off by the bridge near the baseball field. It looks like cabinets and other junk that should've gone to the dump. The problem is still ongoing at the back door of St. V's. Is it b/c the dump charges a fee and people don't want to pay it? Could it be the dump hours? I would love to know why people can't just go to the dump and take their garbage. I have asked around and some people think that maybe the fees are too steep for some people. Some dumps don't charge anything and some are open all weekend (when most people have the time to take their items). Instead these people just find the cheapest, easiest way out and dump where they won't be seen. What are the penalties if caught? From what I've read, they aren't too severe.

Thats why theres tires,sofas,lumber thrown out all over the place is because the dump charges for dumping these things.I still think garbage cans along the river/dike would help some.Like the one at the end of main by the rocks building.It's been there since I was a kid.You don't even have to get out of the car to use it.I also think the dike road is where the teens throw out their cans, and bottles,And fast food bags.

Also,You are right frank,That was a good comercial.

Good thread, irritating subject! I too wonder how anyone who obviously likes being able to 'go down to the river' (or they wouldn't have been there) can just leave all their trash when they leave. It's not like a weeks worth load to carry, and they probably already brought a bag with them to put it back in..
I keep seeing the empty water bottles along the frequently used walking/running/biking routes. That's REALLY hard to understand! You're health conscious enough to get exercise, drink only bottled water but LITTER

Your right Frank. I loved that commercial. I wish they would bring it
back.

Maybe organize a town cleanup day (like in May or June so word has time to get around) to get volunteers to help pick up trash around the river, streams, parks, all over town?

If the dump hours are a problem they can set up an after hours area like Butte has done. It is a gated area with a few large dumpsters available to use. I'm unsure how well it is working for Butte because they do ask that you only throw household waste into them but I'm sure there is some abuse of the system. For fees maybe they should have free dump day twice a year for the large items. I know they do one in May but a second one might stop a lot of the bigger items like furniture from being dumped out by the river or along roads.

To TK: I think there already is one ~ usually scheduled close to BHS and end of the school year. I also like the idea of some receptacles in problem areas, maybe volunteers would periodically check/empty them? When I'm walking my dog, I make it a personal contest to fill any grocery bag or container I find with all the trash it will hold for the rest of my walk. This can be quite a load ~ especially along the cemetery road ~ and a little 'bag lady-ish' to pack back home!
I have a neighbor who is trying to bring in the group that was here last fall to speak on Beautifying America. (sorry, can't remember the actual title) Hopefully that will happen and we can get some tried and true ideas on where to start!

One more thing, concerning problems getting to the dump and paying extra charges for going there: If you have waste removal services, there are a lot of things, including furniture, that they will pick-up at your house. Of course appliances and probably tires are out..
[This message has been edited by K.Duffy (4/14/2010)]

[This message has been edited by K.Duffy (4/14/2010)]

I live in Glendive, and on the weekend of Earth day the dump usually waives the fees for a long weekend or all week long (not sure). I know this wouldn't fix the problem but maybe the Miles City dump would join in on this. Every little bit helps.

Those of you criticizing the people who litter....how about a little forgiveness??? I'm sure that everyone here has littered at some point in their lives.....NONE OF US ARE PERFECT!!! Also, think of the families of the litterers!!!

There was an article in the Billings Gazette last week about a new law recently passed that gives some pretty stiff penalties to folks who vandalize or damage property owned by Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Some of these penalties even include loss of fishing and hunting privileges for those found guilty of damaging these properties. Obviously this doesn't apply to the riverbottoms as a whole, private land, and some similar areas mentioned in this post, but it does apply to ALL Fishing Access Sites and state parks which is fairly significant as there's a lot of those places around.

http://billingsgazette.co...002e0.html

Here locally, I know FWP has had A LOT of problems with trash being left and vandalism, some very signifant and costly, at the 7th street bridge access site, Kinsey Bridge, Bonfield FAS and Pirogue Island state park.
Its just appalling when people can't pick up their trash and put in the garbage cans provided or they haul the junk they don't want out to these places and leave it for someone else to deal with. Have a little pride, people! The dump fee is like $5. Really, who can't spare $5 lousy dollars? THANK YOU to those who've picked up after these lazy bums!!!!
If you know or see of someone doing this type of thing, please report it to your local sheriffs office or FWP if its one of their sites. Maybe (hopefully) with this new law folks will think twice before dumping their trash, especially if they know of someone who's gotten pinched for it!

We used to fill our car backseat with garbage picked up when we drove over Going-to-the-Sun Highway. I once followed a woman who opened a box of film and dropped the box. I picked it up. Then she dropped the inner wrapper. (We were at the Logan Pass turnout.) As she loaded her film, she turned around and noticed me picking up her garbage and had the good grace to look embarrassed. Maybe the next time, she didn't drop her garbage.

There is one big advantage to digital! Less trash to drop!

Gunnar,
My parents didn't litter. If anything blew out of a car window we stopped and picked it up. I don't litter. My children were taught to not litter. My grandchildren are being taught it's wrong to litter. Not a really complicated idea. Anyone can grasp the simple idea if they feel like being a decent human being.

As for anyone who sees someone dumping where they are not supposed to, grab your cell phone and get a video or a photo.

For those who are dumping, realize this..most everyone has the ability to capture your crime and turn it over to the authorities. Pretty sure the fee to unload your stuff at the dump would be cheaper than the fine.

Strawberry Hill Recreation Area is another bad one.

Kacey, I believe Gunnar was making a joke :/ You know like the "cat justice" thread, or the High Speed Chase thread...

Gunnar. I do not mean to judge anyone. I would just like to find that person who drank up all that beer and ate all of Windy,s and Pizza Hut and all the other tons of just trash and kick the living poop out of him.And the same as Kacey said. Teach your children well son.Gunnar you come with me and I will show you some of these places and then ask yourself what will it look like in ten years at this rate.I like the idea that we can start a public clean up of the rivers every month of the spring to fall.It will take more than just one day. It has to be taught.And I like the new fish and game laws.We need them.

I, too, believe Gunnar was just kidding. And, who knows, might kid again.

As for K. Duffy's comment:

I make it a personal contest to fill any grocery bag or container I find with all the trash it will hold.

Me, too. I love the fact that you don't need to remember to take a trash bag with you when you walk. You almost always find one on the way.

Just because there's a community effort around BHS and/or around the end of the school year does not mean it has to be the only clean-up event of the year. Why not have them once or twice a month? I'm just saying!

I'm all for it,And I have a trailer to haul trash.

In Eastern Montana, if it weren't for the beer cans there wouldn't be any scenery between town and the ranch.

Then you have'nt been off the highway.

I personally love the idea of a free dump day maybe once a month! I think that would keep people from dumping at St. V's or by the river. They might hold onto their junk until that day. I can't think of an incentive for taking those items to the dump other than pride in the city and yourself, but maybe someone else has some ideas. The cans can be taken to be recycled for cash and a lot of people do that but how about the other stuff?

One considered quip from Gunnar does as much to beautify Miles City as a month full of clean-up days. We don't deserve you and, yet, we absolutely do!

Thanks to John Muggli, the Solid Waste Board, the Chamber and the City Public Works Dept., our annual Spring Clean-Up Day is scheduled for Friday, May 7th & Saturday, May 8th.

If we were to make this a regular event each Earth Day (April 21st) would that make things easier?

(Tom, thank you for this thread. We're very close to launching a "Keep America Beautiful" affiliate in Miles City thanks to Janelle Grant. That'll be a very cool thing so stay tuned.)

I go out to Mathews alot and have started taking a trash can with me and pick stuff up. Obviouly others are doing the save as there was much less litter than the last time I went there. The dumping of the sheet rock was really classy use of recreational property. My biggest compaint other than the fact others do not haul there trash with them is the use and discard of glass bottles, they break up and are hard to haul. The other horrible misuse of public areas is the dumping of tires. I know they do it to avoid paying the cost of taking them to the land fill. I think they should make it manditory for the tire store to keep the old tires and just automatically charge the dump fee. There was a set of tires that were completly worn out and who ever had them dumped the whole set at Mathews. Someone had to throw theirs into the creek to spoil the view. It was a good thing I did not witness this idiotic act or I would be facing some legal problems. I want to thank those who are helping pick up the trash and hope those leaving there trash get a serious and debilitaing illness, hopefully sever enough so there are unable to go down to the river to vandalize it. Leif

There is also a certain mindset that enjoys shooting at outhouses and dumping garbage for the joy of vandalism. I've always thought the FWP should develop an outhouse that shoots back!

I was raised not to litter and I can remember back in the day when trash cans were placed beside the highway at historical markers etc.
I believe the state did not need the trash cans anymore when they started doing the "Adopt a Highway" program. The biggest contributor to beer can trash is the open container laws. People are so afraid of having a empty beer can (yes, people really do drink and drive)if they get pulled over, they consider it prudent to just pitch them out the window.I was in the military and I have picked up about twenty tons of crap that I did not contribute to. If you travel around the U.S., Montana is one of the cleanest states you will visit but we have a long way to go to keep people from littering. When I go to Spotted Eagle to fish, I always take a trash bag with me. I think if everyone had a trash bag in their vehicle we would all become more conscientious about keeping our community cleaner.

It seems a few folks are trying there best to clean this mess up one small bag at a time. Why don,t we combine our forces and get together and see if we can get this mess cleaned up with the volunteerism that this community is known for. Maybe we can set up some weekends or times that would work for everyone . I would be happy to donate my little dump-truck anytime folks would want to get together and pitch in. So if there,s anyone that would like to help organize this or pitch-in lets get together and visit.We might be able to put a good size hurt-in on this before the underbrush gets waste high.

One other thought Mr. Mayor/Councilman & Commissioners this might be a good opportunity to get some of the city and County community service done?

If interested E-mail me at [email protected]

[This message has been edited by john w caylor (4/15/2010)]

Sound good to me John. If anyone wants to help clean up call me at 234-0019 John is right we all need to just get it done.I went and cleaned up a pickup full today and only cost $3.00 at the dump.I want to talk about trash can close to the river might help.But there is like six at the Pumping Plant and that many at Spotted Eagle and every state land access.So what can you do.I think if they were sitting on a trash can they would throw the trash in the river or on the ground. Wal-Mart takes oil and batteries at no cost and $1.50 for a tire. Again call me if you would like to start a clean up crew.Thanks Everyone and have a good day.

[This message has been edited by Tom Bair (4/15/2010)]

Well i think if were going to do all the work the least the city and county could do is pay for the dump? Maybe they can bury the hatchet for this one. What do you think?

I agree on a clean up, and haveing the city pay for the dump. Maybe have a week of a few dumpsters out there for people that want to clean up. It would be a great idea.

Great idea .I,ll try and make some calls tommorow and see if one of the refuse companys might be interested.