1,800 lbs. of Lake Tahoe Trash

[FLS]

Just saw this article. Sad that people think it's ok to pollute. Thank goodness that Amazing people are there to clean it up...

A big mess: Fourth of July visitors leave more than 1,800 pounds of trash at Lake Tahoe

https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2019/...NH2WnSqojnwfK4


Every year, hordes of people swarm Lake Tahoe for the Fourth of July celebration, and every year, they leave a big mess.


Luckily, there's a group of dedicated volunteers who comb through the shorelines picking up trash. This year, 315 people volunteered for the annual Keep Tahoe Blue cleanup effort, an event organized by the League to Save Lake Tahoe.


Volunteers walked through six different sites around Lake Tahoe on Friday, totaling 10 miles of shoreline, according to chief strategy officer Jesse Patterson.


They picked up a total of 1,875 pounds of trash — which equates to 1,320 gallons. That amount includes a total of 8,791 individual plastic pieces such as utensils, coffee cup lids, plastic wrappers, bottle caps, and straws.


"All that plastic never biodegrades," Patterson said. "If it doesn't get picked up, it stays at Lake Tahoe forever."


Last year, volunteers picked up 1,473 pounds of trash.


"People need to do better or be more aware of their impact," Patterson said.


A cigarette problem
The League to Save Lake Tahoe also installed several disposal canisters all around the lake where people can toss their cigarette butts. Patterson said he believes that has helped reduce the number of cigarette butts volunteers picked up along the shoreline this year.


"In a few months, we'll know how many have been kept off the beaches because of the canisters," Patterson said.


In total, cleanup crews counted 5,458 cigarette butts during Friday's cleanup efforts.


Nicholas McKnight, 27, from the North Lake Tahoe area, participates in the 2019 Keep Tahoe Red, White and Blue Beach Cleanup in Kings Beach, California. Buy Photo
Nicholas McKnight, 27, from the North Lake Tahoe area, participates in the 2019 Keep Tahoe Red, White and Blue Beach Cleanup in Kings Beach, California. (Photo: Sam Gross/RGJ)


"This number is already 3,000 less than what we found last year at this event," Patterson said, adding he didn't know for sure if the canisters have helped.


Since 2014, volunteers have collected a total of 96,000 cigarette butts.


"That's unacceptable," Patterson said. "Just because they stand on the beach doesn't mean it's an ashtray. Most of these contain some plastic, and they release toxins in the water and wildlife eat them."


Making a difference
Last year, the group's efforts prompted the City of South Lake Tahoe to pass regulations banning the use of Styrofoam at the lake.


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"All our volunteers store and count the types of trash," Patterson said. "It's essential because we want to know what the problem trashes are and where to find it so that we can find solutions.


"Numbers and data help crystalize the problem," he said, adding city officials looked at data the group collected in the past five years. "The government here doesn't want to overstep and make all these rules (without evidence)."


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MORE OUTDOORS NEWS:


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Lake Tahoe public nudity crackdown throws wet blanket on clothing-optional beaches


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When asked if the region's booming population has impacted the amount of trash left behind, Patterson said, "In general, more people means more impact to the lake and more trash."


Still, Patterson said the growing number of volunteers gives him hope that there are a lot more people who care. He said education and self-awareness are vital to the organization's efforts.


"Is it going to solve everything?" he said. "I don't think so, but also seeing 300 people come out and pick up trash is encouraging."


Joanna Perez has volunteered in the beach cleanup for two years. She traveled from her home in Reno to Kings Beach to help.


Joanna Perez, 24, from Reno, participates in the 2019 Keep Tahoe Red, White and Blue Beach Cleanup in Kings Beach, California. Buy Photo
Joanna Perez, 24, from Reno, participates in the 2019 Keep Tahoe Red, White and Blue Beach Cleanup in Kings Beach, California. (Photo: Sam Gross/RGJ)


"Last year it just had such a big impact on me as far as the footsteps I leave behind," she said.


Her blue Keep Tahoe Blue bag, issued to the cleanup participants, contained glass bottles, plastic bottles and other small pieces of plastic.


Nicholas McKnight participated in the effort for the first time this year.


"We want to keep Tahoe blue; keep it clean," McKnight said. "We don't want it trashy and disgusting."


Marcella Corona is a breaking news reporter who covers crime and justice in Northern Nevada. Support her work by subscribing to RGJ.com right here.

[old goat]

Every spring Truckee has a cleanup where volunteers walk the roads picking up trash. I did a mile or so on Donner Pass Rd by the lake this year. After doing one side of the road--the side away from the lake so less trash I couldn't lift the bag any more, and that doesn't include stuff like bumpers and broken rims too big for the bag that I left for the trash company to pick up.

[Thurgood Jenkins]

Did they find Fredo?