Ever since our fearless editor noticed that there are more waste receptacles per block in Noe Valley than on Mission Street, we’ve been talking trash.
Now it’s the neighborhood’s turn. We took to the streets, asking, “Where does trash come from?” and “What do you do about it?”
Did people have opinions? Boy, did they ever. Way more than 60 seconds’ worth. Here’s the short version.
Many people seem to consider being asked to think or care about other-than-themselves as an imposition; and anyone who asks them to be other than self-centered as immoral.
24th Street in Noe Valley has lots of trashbins because they went to the trouble of creating a Community Benefits District. The reason DPW has been taking trashcans away in many locations in the Mission is simple: Too many people see trash receptacles as in invitation to dump household items, old tires, what have you. Illegal dumping actually does down when there is no trashbin to act as a magnet. It’s just stunning how many people are too lazy or uncaring to take their unneeded items to Community Thrift or Goodwill and just dump it next to a trashbin or a street corner, or just drop their MacDonalds wrappers where they stand when a trashbin is within a few feet. In SF, and particularly in the Mission, a lack of trashbins is NOT the problem–but rather a woeful lack of consciousness.
Gideon: Thank you for your comment. Some merchants on Mission Street also created a Community Benefits District, but do not have more trash bins. But we’re looking into all of these aspects and will definitely go into the CBDs. Best, Lydia
People in our neighborhood don’t care – that’s why they drop their garbage on the street. I wait for the bus on 24th street and w/i 10 minutes see 3-4 people litter next to a garbage can without a any thought. There are garbage cans in front of every business (as required by the city). I spend time, money and effort planting in front of my house and people use it as a garbage can – bottles, wrappers, diapers, whole bags of fast food. The sidewalk in front of my house is regularly used as a dumping ground for mattresses, tv’s, clothes, shoes, bookcases – anything goes. I saw someone pissing on the front door of my neighbor’s house and said “that’s somone’s house your pissing on” and his response was “I was born in the Mission” as if it entitled him to trash our hood. Maybe Noe Valley has more trash cans because the people who live there actually use them.
it’s funny to talk about trash when people regularly piss and shit wherever they want in the mission. i’d love to walk through trash on my way to work instead of the stench of fresh urine.