[Lincolnian]

As I traveled on my motorcycle around the state this past weekend I couldn't help but notice the much higher than usual amount of roadside garbage. In the urban areas of New Britain, Bristol, Hartford, New Haven and others the litter is literally piled up in the gutters.

Along the highways plastic shopping bags hang from trees like Christmas ornaments and fast food drink cups and containers litter the bushes.

Is an economic downturn an excuse for people to act like total slobs? Do police still enforce litter laws? Although many state and municipal workers are in jeopardy of losing their jobs many have not been laid off yet so why aren't the road crews out there cleaning up the litter?

If we don't have resources to clean the litter how about reinstituting the prisoners doing the cleanup or making a plea to local scouting and civic organizations to assist in the cleanup?

I plan to bring a small bag to pick up roadside litter in my area as I walk my dog but the main arteries really need some serious help.

[JViello]

Maybe you are just noticing it more now because I've always seen it around...when I mention it to some CT natives they think I'm crazy until I point it out.

Garbage and cigarette butts being tossed out the window is a big problem here. No one seems to care. Sad.

[LaMadden]

When my daughter and her boyfriend were up last week they commented on the garbage allover the roadsides too.

[Connecticut Pam]

Originally Posted by Lincolnian

As I traveled on my motorcycle around the state this past weekend I couldn't help but notice the much higher than usual amount of roadside garbage. In the urban areas of New Britain, Bristol, Hartford, New Haven and others the litter is literally piled up in the gutters.Along the highways plastic shopping bags hang from trees like Christmas ornaments and fast food drink cups and containers litter the bushes.Is an economic downturn an excuse for people to act like total slobs? Do police still enforce litter laws? Although many state and municipal workers are in jeopardy of losing their jobs many have not been laid off yet so why aren't the road crews out there cleaning up the litter?
f we don't have resources to clean the litter how about reinstituting the prisoners doing the cleanup or making a plea to local scouting and civic organizations to assist in the cleanup?I plan to bring a small bag to pick up roadside litter in my area as I walk my dog but the main arteries really need some serious help.

I am so glad someone brought this up. My husband and I live in Meriden and there are parts of the city that are absolutely awful with litter. I keep telling my husband that they should hire kids for the summer or perhaps talk with scout troops like you said to see if they can get it cleaned up. It especially will aggrevate me to see the litter then see a city worker at Dunkin Donuts, leaning on a broom, leaning on a shovel or socializing with a cop at a work area in the road..ARRRGH Meriden use to have a city clean up day where volunteers got together at City Hall and then went in teams to clean up the litter. Haven't seen that yet and perhaps it is too cold for our new Mayor?

Where we live is outside the city itself and we do still see litter along our road. It can only get there from being tossed out a car window or from someone walking up our hill which doesn't happen that often. My husband goes nuts when he sees it. Now, this weekend coming in the Daffodil Festival at Hubbard Park and we will end up with garbage on our lawn because people park all along the side streets around us and dump their crap on our lawn and everyone elses where we live.

No respect for other people and no respect for the environment is the issue here.

[jimazee]

Another contributor is the stuff that blows out of the back of pickups and other open trucks. Junk like coffee cups, lunch bags, fast food containers are casually tossed in the truck on the job site or lunch spot. It blows out on the road hours or even days later.

[WILWRadio]

It's probably not as bad as here in Missouri. There is more garbage in the roads in this state, especially in the Kansas City area, than any other place I've driven. And I've driven in 38 states and every Province in Canada except New Foundland.

[Connecticut Pam]

Originally Posted by jimazee

Another contributor is the stuff that blows out of the back of pickups and other open trucks. Junk like coffee cups, lunch bags, fast food containers are casually tossed in the truck on the job site or lunch spot. It blows out on the road hours or even days later.

I say up the "anti" for a littering fine and tell the police in the various towns that this law has to be enforced...they are quick enough to stop people for no seat belts why not for tossing crap out of their vehicles or letting crap blow out of their vehicles. If they would enforce the litter laws better along with the cell phone law, our quaint little towns here in CT would be cleaner with fewer accidents....I am for increasing the littering fine and having it enforced. How about the rest of you??

[JayCT]

Every year this happpens. I think it is because the cleanup crews have not been around yet. You should be seeing them but with the current budget problems it probably won't be done as quickly. There is no overtime allowed right now so the State can't get out there as much.

Connecticut Pam - Why don't you write or email the Mayor of Meriden and ask. Nothing does better than proding the new guy. Jay

[bluevelo]

Its a problem everywhere

You may be noticing it more with Spring breaking out - things start to green up, and you notice the stuff by the roadside - but road litter countrywide is unfortunately, a fact of life. And anti-litter laws are like anti-cell phone laws - the police have far too much to do to chase litterers. Unless, of course, you're Arlo Guthrie in Mass

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by jimazee

Another contributor is the stuff that blows out of the back of pickups and other open trucks. Junk like coffee cups, lunch bags, fast food containers are casually tossed in the truck on the job site or lunch spot. It blows out on the road hours or even days later.

I really notice this. The garbage trucks when picking up on the weekly routes, seem to scatter crap everywhere in our neighborhood. I wind up taking a trash bag and picking up after them occasionally.

On the topic of garbage, we live on the Rippowam River in Stamford. Our property has about a 25 foot stretch of woods along the river, and so do our neighbors. The homes in our subdivision have been built since 1951. Anyway, the amount of garbage I keep finding due to decades of "dumping" is incredible. I have so far picked up on our property--and our neighbors--about 10-12 trashbags full over the course of several months.

I like to think the attitudes and awareness of people regarding "dumping" is getting better, and people are more educated. But seeing how unaware some people are about garbage, and how some just throw it out "cause they don't have to see it" is disgusting.