Quit blaming trashy roadways on Caltrans — we’re the culprits

QCaltrans is not the cause of excessive road trash. We are. You are. Your family, your neighbors, your friends are. We need to take some responsibility. Quit buying bottled water, pick up trash when you see it instead of walking around it. Educate people around you, especially young kids about respecting the planet. It takes all of us doing our part and a bit more each day to make a difference.

— Karen Humber, Gilroy

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Many folks agree.

Q

When Caltrans does a litter/dumping cleanup, it only takes a few hours before it starts to build up again. We all must do our part to keep our litter contained in our cars and especially trucks.

— Penny Pollock, San Jose

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And on we go.

Q

It’s not people throwing trash out. It’s garbage trucks blowing trash, papers, etc., all over the freeways. Everyone should follow one once.

It’s shocking.

— Diane Brauch, Los Altos

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Shocking indeed.

Q

I am frustrated by the trash on our highways. The conversation should not be how to clean it up, but rather on how to stop it in the first place. The CHP and local police should have to spend an hour a week picking up trash. Their union would hate it. They would think it demeaning. But they would start to think hard about how to stop littering.

— Bill Fisher, Cupertino

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This won’t happen.

Q

We also need cameras to automatically record activity.

— Maurice Norcott

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Cameras were tested along Monterey Highway but were proved ineffective.

Q If you drop anything on the ground while walking, rather than finding a trash can orit until you get to your destination, you are part of the problem and are making an aggressive act against a decent and clean society.

If you are a pickup truck owner and do not secure your load so nothing can escape, you are part of the problem and are making an aggressive act against a decent and clean society.

It is not Caltrans’ job to clean up after you now any more than it was your mom’s job to clean up after you when you were growing up. Yes, it is all our responsibility, and the evidence shows that we are willfully, horribly, shamefully abdicating that responsibility. And if you recognize yourself in any of the above, well, I’m sure your mom is very proud of you.

—Chuck M.

A Ah, my mom kept a very clean house and never littered while driving. It was great, except when she threw out my beloved baseball card collection in my closet.

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