quick note about trash bags...

don't want to start a silly discussion about this but... most all large groups leave too much trash at events and this is very unfortunate. The problem is that we have become a society much too dependent on packaging and throwaways... comparing groups and their trash is base and unproductive... we all need to work on this problem. We have become a society much too dependent on packaging and throwaways.

I was at the Rally working and I can witness to the reality that I saw no one deliberately throwing trash during the Rally; in fact everyone tried to gather what trash they had in small piles when the cans around filled up and there was no room left to put anything in them. My area was quite messy and I went to find trash bags to clean up; there were none to be found. I spent my last hour with a couple of other people cleaning one particular area. At one point I saw a young man (visiting with his family -not at the Rally) come along and knock over all the boxes and spread the trash around. I was too far away to say anything.

The problem was that people had no place to put their trash... (I wish that I had put a few trash bags in my backpack that morning)

I will be taking a bag or two with me to the Rally to Restore Sanity. I might suggest, anyone going might consider the same.

Excellent idea! :thumbsup:

a festival are littered...and there is a crew that cleans up the trash.

Every event leaves trash behind, and the National Park Service has budget funds dedicated for cleanup.

Years ago, the Beach Boys used to perform Independence Day concerts on the Mall. IIRC, the crowds numbered more than 500,000, and the NPS had a huge cleanup and grounds maintenance bill every time.

The solution: they quit having the Beach Boys concert. The first year, they instead had several smaller concerts scattered around the D.C. area (in addition to the fireworks on the Mall, which was itself a huge trash generator).

After the One Nation rally, a One Nation crew assisted the National Park Service in cleaning up the trash:

Nat'l. Park Svc.: One Nation Rally no messier than other rallies
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9253942

I will not be there on account of I abhor crowds but Mother Gaea is certainly smiling on you

it would be great to have bags (with stewart and colbert faces on them ) to give out to people and ask them to clean up their space at the end. Pictures of people cleaning up and bags placed near the trash cans would be fun to post around the internet.
Now there's some sanity for you! :fistbump:

I wish I could go, but I don't think I can.

that all of the trash cans had been full very early and that it was a shame more receptacles weren't made available. He, obviously very put out to have to respond to me, said, "They didn't put any extra ones out today." I said, "Well, maybe next time." And he mumbled something inaudible (may as well have been, "Whatever.")

I don't know why they wouldn't put out more if that were a possibility.

Btw, I didn't just go up to him and complain. I started off asking how things were going (at the event.) I got the same response from a couple of other policemen I spoke to. Creepy. The Park Rangers were much nicer, even as one was complaining about the trash left in the Lincoln Memorial ""temple" itself.

Honestly, I never thought to bring trash bags. I guess do expect public services to be provided. I do think the organizers should have provided them if there was any question as to the provisions by the Park service.

Will personally know better for the Stewart/Colbert rally. Thanks for the heads up.

We have regular clean ups on Ocean Beach and especially after any event there or near by because there are no trash cans at all -- no one to service them. I think we have 1 (one) ranger for the whole beach.

the trash problem would go away. Really--would the expense of the dumpsters be THAT much more than the expense of the cleanup crew and equipment?

:shrug:

more noise to obscure the success of such rallies, I suppose. At any rate, when you hire people for cleanup, you, uh, HIRE people. I think that is something people are asking for these days. I realize it's short time, short term, but it's a check at the end of the day and every little bit helps. It's what the country needs.