Why are California highways so littered? (San Francisco: refrigerators, neighborhoods, to buy)

[nwman2830]

Is it because this state has more litterbugs than any other state? Is it because Caltrans does a poor job? Is it because counties are not willing to hire volunteers to clean up the highways? Nearly every other state I have been to does not have that problem. I have been to Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Illinois and their highways are clean. You do not see litter by shoulders or ramps.

[citizensadvocate]

Another thing is why the highways are so poorly maintained despite so many taxpayers paying high taxes both income, sales, and gas taxes, not to mention drive on toll facilities such as bridges, toll lanes, and some toll roads. Why do other states have much better maintained roads maybe with the exception of Washington state?
The implementation of SB270 statewide last November also made litter issues much worse as much more unsecured garbage fly out the top or back of garbage trucks. Before that it used to be a major issue in some parts of the state ie San Francisco Bay Area where local versions of this were passed since 2012.

[AlongTheI-5]

With more jobs than any other state, California has more people than any other state.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by nwman2830

Is it because this state has more litterbugs than any other state? Is it because Caltrans does a poor job? Is it because counties are not willing to hire volunteers to clean up the highways? Nearly every other state I have been to does not have that problem. I have been to Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Illinois and their highways are clean. You do not see litter by shoulders or ramps.

Used to see jail inmates picking up the litter and I still see that in other States. Did CA stop that so the inmates could have an easier life?

[nwman2830]

Originally Posted by citizensadvocate

Another thing is why the highways are so poorly maintained despite so many taxpayers paying high taxes both income, sales, and gas taxes, not to mention drive on toll facilities such as bridges, toll lanes, and some toll roads. Why do other states have much better maintained roads maybe with the exception of Washington state?
The implementation of SB270 statewide last November also made litter issues much worse as much more unsecured garbage fly out the top or back of garbage trucks. Before that it used to be a major issue in some parts of the state ie San Francisco Bay Area where local versions of this were passed since 2012.

Chicago passed local ordinance on paper bags, yet the streets are clean and you dont see there garbage flying out on streets. A number of cities and counties in other states did that too. Austin, Dallas, Boulder, CO and they have clean streets.

[V8 Vega]

It's because were the poverty capital of the United States. When you go to rich neighborhoods no litter.

[steiconi]

I think it's partly the dry summers; there is little vegetation to hide the litter.
People here in Hawaii are dreadful litterbugs*, but the jungle eats that stuff right up so you hardly notice it.

*out here in the rural areas. No garbage pickup, so people will dump their trash in an empty lot even though the dumps are free. Washers, couches, even cars are left near the road. Apparently there is no penalty if you abandon a car here.

[citizensadvocate]

Originally Posted by nwman2830

Chicago passed local ordinance on paper bags, yet the streets are clean and you dont see there garbage flying out on streets. A number of cities and counties in other states did that too. Austin, Dallas, Boulder, CO and they have clean streets.

Austin, Chicago, and most Hawaiian islands passed an ordinance on thin plastic bags but thicker ones arnt affected so stores and people used those instead to contain their garbage. This makes a great difference as there are lots of plastics other than grocery bags that comes with our groceries. If they are thrown in to the garbage without being secured by grocery bags they will fly out the back of the truck bin liners, glade, and paper bags are very poor alternatives that would lose their tie and spill their contents. SFDFW little audits shows an increase of plastic garbage including plastic film from 4% to 8% in the years since the ban. And google street view images with pictures taken multiple times a year on the same locations shows a significant increase in piles of litter in pictures taken after their ordinances that not only bans thin plastics but a hefty charge on any others were passed compared to anytime before in the same locations.

FYI Dallas as long repealed its ordinance and now these ordinances are officially illegal in the state of Texas. Which is a good thing given it's unintended consequences of increasing other litter significantly.

[janellen]

Originally Posted by steiconi

I think it's partly the dry summers; there is little vegetation to hide the litter.
People here in Hawaii are dreadful litterbugs*, but the jungle eats that stuff right up so you hardly notice it.

*out here in the rural areas. No garbage pickup, so people will dump their trash in an empty lot even though the dumps are free. Washers, couches, even cars are left near the road. Apparently there is no penalty if you abandon a car here.

You're not alone there Hawaii. We have the same situation in my county, only our dump does charge to use it....$15 and up depending on what the load is. That's a chunk of change for poor folk, so on the road it goes. You left out some of the biggies: car tires, refrigerators, old carpet and TVs....lots and lots of TVs. We also have dead animals dumped a lot...roosters and pit bulls that lost the fight, and sometimes left over goat parts that didn't make it to the BBQ. Ugh!!! It's awful!!

I remember it used to be that you would know when you crossed the state line into Oregon without even seeing the state line sign. You could just tell.

[nwman2830]

So I come to conclusion, many people are just too cheap to buy garbage bags. I have seen in walmart decent garbage bqcks for only a few bucks that last weeks.