posted 12/27/08 12:07 PM | updated 12/27/08 12:08 PM
Views: 919 | Comments : 22 | News, etc.

Garbage around the city

By tcowen
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I just returned from a drive around the city after having spent rougly seven straight days cooped up in the narrow confines of North Cap Hill. I was absolutely stunned to see how devastated the city is right now. In all the years I have live in Seattle, I have never seen the city look so vile. Trash everywhere! The streets are simply slogged with garbage, and my fair Emerald City looks more like Beirut or Detroit than the place I have grown to love over the past decade. I really don't see the city recovering for some time - I just don't think we have the manpower available to clean things up any time soon. Has anyone else who has lived here longer than 10 years seen the city in such a mess?
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You're right
It is gross. I walk to work from Summit and Harrison down olive, into downtown. It's gone from a sheet of ice, to a horrible soggy trash trail. Particularly at Bellevue and Olive near City Market. Let alone some sidewalks are slushwalks. If everyone would just shovel in front of their building, do a small patch, it makes it easier for everyone to walk around.
Comment by Hill Kid Will
December 27, 2008
Here's a thought
Everyone should pick up a bit around their residences or businesses, especially once the trash/recycle vehicles pick up what is currently sitting in dumpsters. See a bit of trash on the street corner? Grab a grocery bag and pick it up. If we all pick up a little bit of trash, the streets will look better faster.

I actually do this while walking my dog, even in yards that aren't ours. Since I usually have to drop a bag of dog waste in a trash can anyway, I don't mind picking up a few candy wrappers or soda cans along the way.
Comment by Wesa
December 27, 2008
RE: Here's a thought
Agreed. See it, pick it up - you won't have to look at it again.
No it's not fair, but who ever said life was.

As my late father used to say: "The Lord helps those who help themselves"
Comment by Andrew Taylor
December 27, 2008
RE: Here's a thought
Fair or not, we don't know for sure how the trash go there during normal times. Something may have slipped out of a backpack or pocket, or a child who didn't know better let it drop. There are folks who do litter on purpose, but it's not all of them. It's not much effort to grab what you see, especially in public places like sidewalks, Cal Anderson Park (and I've cleaned up the park as a guilty exchange for running my dog off-leash there), or the city streets.
Comment by Wesa
December 27, 2008
RE: Here's a thought
Yup. I totally agree. if everyone picks up a bit of trash we are much more likely to clean the neighborhood up. I always pick garbage up as I wander the streets of Capitl Hill. I am glad to see that others do the same
Comment by tcowen
December 27, 2008
I'd like to thank
the hipster assholes for leaving a giant pile of trash at melrose and denny. I thought those tight-pantsed losers were supposed to love the environment and ducks and stuff.
Comment by Brant P
December 27, 2008
RE: I'd like to thank
Way to stereotype! We had a snowstorm that shut down the same span 5 years ago I think it was, maybe 6, and the same thing happened. I was outside at 2am cleaning up trash and managed to gather 3 or 4 neighbors to help me. It's not "hipster assholes", it's everyone: your friends, your neighbors, your friends' friends, your neighbors' neighbors, that went out to have a good time. Sure they left a lot of trash behind, but it's not a reason to stereotype the folks who were there.
Comment by Wesa
December 27, 2008
RE: I'd like to thank
I walked down to Melrose and Denny during sled night to see what the ruckus was, and it was hipster assholes, as far as the eye could see.
Comment by Brant P
December 27, 2008
RE: I'd like to thank
Maybe hipsters, but assholes? Why assholes? From other people I hear stories of everyone having a great time with minimal "asshole" behavior.
Comment by Wesa
December 27, 2008
RE: I'd like to thank
I think leaving a giant mound of trash--including a mattress--for others to clean up counts as asshole behavior.
One can have a great time and still be an asshole. I'm sure the guy who spray painted that Obama mural was having a great time, but he's still an asshole.
Comment by Brant P
December 27, 2008
RE: I'd like to thank
@wesa

i think he means assholes because of the trash they left behind. i walked down denny last saturday morning and saw the cardboard, mattress, ironing board and other bric-a-brac that people were using to slide down the hill the night before, just piled in the street. to me, that's asshole behavior.

to apologize for people leaving garbage in the street, when most seattlites pride themselves in being so "environmentally friendly," is wrong. i'm glad people had fun sliding down the hill but if you brought the items; take them with you after you've had your fun. to leave them in the street for someone else to clean up is being an asshole.
Comment by zeebleoop
December 27, 2008
RE: Id like to thank
Does anyone know if the city has cleaned up the Melrose\Denny intersection yet? I called the Seattle street cleaning number the other day to let them know about the mess, but I have not been by there since to see if they actually cleaned things up. If you would like to call the street-cleaning number as well, you can reach them at the following numbers: SDOT Street Maintenance at (206) 684-7508 for street cleaning concerns north of Denny Way or (206) 386-1218 for streets south of Denny Way.
Comment by tcowen
December 29, 2008
Quit being so melodramatic
The city doesn't look like "Beirut or Detroit." It looks like a city that is completely inept at clearing its streets. Maybe someone ought to tell Mayor Nickels that trash sitting in the alleys is bad for the salmon -- he'd get right on it! I bet he'd get a B+ for that.
Comment by Jason
December 27, 2008
The city is doing the best it can...
given these are abnormal conditions for Seattle. Most of you just bitch because it is a blog and what else would you do.
Comment by M
December 27, 2008
Free Dumping
The dump is free for now? If so, it's probably also a free-for-all!

Garbage and recycling from residents whose collection has been delayed will be accepted at no charge at the North Seattle Recycling and Disposal station (1350 N. 34th St. in the Fremont/Wallingford area near Carr Place N.) .

Source: http://wmnorthwest.com/weatherboard.html
Comment by blurt
December 27, 2008
Free Dumping?
Do I read this correctly that the dump is free? If so, it must be a free-for-all as well!

Garbage and recycling from residents whose collection has been delayed will be accepted at no charge at the North Seattle Recycling and Disposal station (1350 N. 34th St. in the Fremont/Wallingford area near Carr Place N.) .

Source: http://wmnorthwest.com/weatherboard.html
Comment by blurt
December 27, 2008
Free Dumping
If I read this correctly, the dump is free (and there is probably a free-for-all at the dump as well!): Garbage and recycling from residents whose collection has been delayed will be accepted at no charge at the North Seattle Recycling and Disposal station (1350 N. 34th St. in the Fremont/Wallingford area near Carr Place N.).

Source: http://wmnorthwest.com/weatherboard.html
Comment by blurt
December 27, 2008
RE: Free Dumping
The P-I had a similar paragraph in today's story on the lack of garbage pickup:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/393907_garbage28.html
"Seattle residents can take their trash for free to the city's disposal stations in the Fremont and Wallingford area and South Seattle until New Year's Day."
Comment by AliceE
December 27, 2008
Beirut??
I live here now, I haven't been to Detroit, but I do take offense at the use of my hometown as an example of a dirty city. Beirut is used in many cliches (usually around violence and wars), but it's the first time that I see it mentioned as an example of a garbage-laden city. You want to talk about garbage in the streets? Have you seen Manhattan after 10 PM?

This is what Beirut looks like now that the war has ended http://www.flickr.com/photos/photoshooter/94530537/ (I just searched on flickr, I am not the photographer).

I share the sentiment of the poster that complained about the hipsters that left a mattress and other garbage in the street on Denny.

Thanks
Comment by Gus
December 27, 2008
Dog poop
Seattleites are usually pretty good about cleaning up after their dogs, but apparently not when snow is on the ground. Now that the thaw has occurred, there's poop everywhere!! Did the dog owners think that somehow it would magically melt away with the snow?
Comment by calhoun
December 29, 2008
denny & melrose pick up
could we initiate a community pick up? maybe if a couple volunteers with trucks showed up at a certain time, we could get neighbors to help load.
Comment by ann
December 29, 2008
RE: denny & melrose pick up
I called the city illegal dumping number today and they said they will send someone around to pick it up. however, in my experience with these folks, they usually take a couple weeks. I would be happy to help pick up some stuff if others would like to join in
Comment by tcowen
December 29, 2008
RE: denny & melrose pick up
I bet we'd get some results if we shoved all that shit into the middle of Denny.
Comment by Brant P
January 03, 2009