Apparently, we’re slobs.
Dolores Park and Fort Mason were overwhelmed this week with the leavings of our celebration of national independence. The 320 cubic yards (about 9,600 gallons) of trash is just a drop in the bucket compared with what we do nationally every year. Who trashes the places we love? And why?
We hear, “it’s the tourists” or “there weren’t enough trash cans/volunteers/dumpsters/gardeners”. Truth is, people did it. Park users, like you or me, left the trash in the park. According to research by Keep America Beautiful, a national organization that works to engage people in the care of their local environments, “About 85% of littering is the result of individual attitudes. Changing individual behavior is key to preventing litter.”
The solution is simple, choose not to litter.
The research shows that your choice to “give a hoot” encourages others to do the same. It’s contagious. Pass it along. Pick it up.
SFist and SF Examiner on Fort Mason dumping.
SFGate on Dolores Park trash.