Why do so many Angelinos think that a bush is a trash can? (San Diego: how much, neighborhood)

[True Freedom]

Or storm drains, for that matter?

Seems every day I see someone jamming their drink cup or fast food remnants into a bush... as if it is some kind of refuse receptacle. I've lived in San Diego and the Bay Area and have not seen this "bush trash jamming" to such and elevated (and sometimes creative) level.

Some groups are much more careless and throw their trash directly on the ground without a care... but the bush trash jammers are different. They seem to expend at least a little effort to try and hide their laziness and filthiness.

Did I miss the memo saying that this is an OK way to get rid of your trash in LA?

[greggd1]

Originally Posted by True Freedom

Or storm drains, for that matter?

Seems every day I see someone jamming their drink cup or fast food remnants into a bush... as if it is some kind of refuse receptacle. I've lived in San Diego and the Bay Area and have not seen this "bush trash jamming" to such and elevated (and sometimes creative) level.

Some groups are much more careless and throw their trash directly on the ground without a care... but the bush trash jammers are different. They seem to expend at least a little effort to try and hide their laziness and filthiness.

Did I miss the memo saying that this is an OK way to get rid of your trash in LA?

I've been all over this Country. Trash is tossed out of cars, blown out of pickup beds, stuffed in poles, left in parking lots, sewer drains, on ledges, cracks in walls, etc all over the country. LA is no different...its just more densely populated so you see more of the refuse.

You may notice there is a tendancy to toss trash into the storm drain or along the gutter because in some Countries, that is an acceptable practice. It is completely wrong and a stupid mentality, but thats what they do....

Some People (white, black, brown, or whatever) are lazy, inconsiderate, slobs and thats how it goes. The only way it seems to get them to wake up and take some responsibility is a direct hit to their personal pocket book.

[True Freedom]

I'm not saying that every other city is pristine and trash free... but since moving here I have been struck by how much trash is purposefully jammed places.

I even thought to myself that perhaps I just didn't notice it in other big cities that I've lived in... so the next time I visited those cities, I made an effort to look and see... and LA bush trash jamming is on a seriously different level.

Perhaps it's because LA has a higher percentage of first generation folks from the countries that you allude to? Perhaps it's a cultural norm here that spreads like a virus.. you know, someone sees their buddy do it, and they think, " hmm, that's a way to get rid of my stuff"

This is not typical, and it is really very strange to me.

[greggd1]

Originally Posted by True Freedom

Perhaps it's because LA has a higher percentage of first generation folks from the countries that you allude to? Perhaps it's a cultural norm here that spreads like a virus.. you know, someone sees their buddy do it, and they think, " hmm, that's a way to get rid of my stuff"

This is not typical, and it is really very strange to me.

It is one of several sad circumstances of our society. The cost to clean up this mess and the blight it creates is disturbing. Don't bother approaching the individuals you see littering. They feel it is their right and do take it personally. Its not so much an immigrant thing. Ive seen all races litter and "put" things places.

[True Freedom]

Originally Posted by greggd1

It is one of several sad circumstances of our society. The cost to clean up this mess and the blight it creates is disturbing. Don't bother approaching the individuals you see littering. They feel it is their right and do take it personally. Its not so much an immigrant thing. Ive seen all races litter and "put" things places.

It is sad. I've confronted dozens of folks and have heard the gamut of excuses in addition to belligerent responses.

Just a few:
middle aged, well dressed lady walks by my work and jams her coffee cup in our bush. I ask her why she thinks that's ok. She tells me she's new to the area and didn't know where the trash cans are located. I point to one at Denny's on the corner and let her know she can put it there. She tells me to "eff off".

Young lady with infant and four year old hides boxes of crackers, yogurt cups, etc behind a boulder on a local trail. I ask her why she thinks that's ok. She replies that she had no place to carry it. I asked her to carry it out the same way she carried it in. Many four letter expletives hurled at me in front of her children.

Gangbanger leaves a fourty in a bush next to a bus stop. I ask WTF. He says he's leaving recycling "money" for someone.

Grandma, mom, and two teenage daughters get out of car at Denny's and drop their Jamba juice cups along the curb near the drain. I ask them to pick that c.rap up. They do it but get belligerent asking if I'm the neighborhood trash patrol or something. The grandma proceeds to warn me to be careful who "I eff with!" Ok granny.

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by True Freedom

I point to one at Denny's on the corner and let her know she can put it there. She tells me to "eff off".

Ah, you've met my ex. Kinda wondered where she ended up.


In addition to bush-jammers putting trash in there, there are also those who use bushes as drug stashes. Had that happen a few times in front of our old place in PVE. Damned rich kids like that coke too much!

[Count David]

We should be happy that most Angelenos don't use bushes, sidewalks, gutters, etc, as toilets for number two, as I've seen in Tijuana.

[GimmeMts]

LA has been degenerating for a while now. I believe littering is a mere symptom of the overall culture.

[greggd1]

Originally Posted by David Aguilar

We should be happy that most Angelenos don't use bushes, sidewalks, gutters, etc, as toilets for number two, as I've seen in Tijuana.

Ive seen that as well. As a matter of fact, last time was at the corner of Pico and Ocean in Santa Monica. Right up against the wall, neck was like an owl watching his back.

Saw a bald guy naked (no shirt and shorts to the ankles) pooping in the alley under the window of a restaurant. Funny thing was he looked like Mr. Clean from the tv cmmls.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

I have found better things to stick in a bush then trash.