Trash along the Siskiyou Summit

[Cybergal]

June 24, 2009
I've been driving Interstate-5 for 30 years now and continue to be appalled at the trash along the Siskiyou Summit where the "big rigs" pull off to test their brakes, etc. There are no trash cans available. Is there no way to clean up this area and keep it clean? Are the truckers such slobs that they just don't care about the mess they make? Honestly, I think it is an embarrassment to our community when such an eyesore greats travelers.
JR, Medford

Well, JR, you're not the first to notice this problem. Gary Leaming, a spokesman for the Oregon Department of Transportation, shared a letter ODOT received detailing some of the same concerns — and more. These travelers noticed the trash and to their great dismay also saw a trucker who decided to eliminate his personal "biological waste" (otherwise known as going No. 2) on the side of the road.
Jerry Marmon, ODOT District 8 manager, replied to that letter, noting that the trash and "repulsive and unsanitary behavior" has been a chronic problem.
He also wrote: "In the past, we have taken steps to help clean up the litter at the summit including placement of refuse containers on both sides of the pass. This resulted in quickly overloaded containers with household garbage, including discarded furniture. It was severely abused, and we discontinued it."
Debris in the area is picked twice a month in the summer by crews, with Marmon noting, "As you can imagine, we take special precautions for the litter crews at the summit due to the biological 'hazards' present."
Since You Asked | MailTribune.com

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[Member 2400]

My husband and I drive OTR and have seen the best and the worst of our highways.

I truly wish there was a PEE BOTTLE FAIRY!!! A fairy who once a year collected all the pee bottles and poured the contents over the heads of the JERKS who decided to toss them on the ground!

A lot of malls and shopping centers, including Wal-Mart, don't want drivers parking there anymore because these slobs are giving all drivers a bad name.

Some states include jail time for litterbugs. And maybe it works as a deterrent because it seems they have cleaner highways.

[Larry]

The article also says something about people dumping household garbage and crap, maybe it's not the trucker's fault but the people in the community looking for something to bitch at!

[Member 2400]

That's true. And truck drivers aren't the only ones out on the highways and using trucks stops. Vacationers and RVers can be pretty nasty too.

And I doubt the dirty diapers and McDonalds bags I see in shopping centers are left by truck drivers.

[Larry]

That's true. And truck drivers aren't the only ones out on the highways and using trucks stops. Vacationers and RVers can be pretty nasty too.

And I doubt the dirty diapers and McDonalds bags I see in shopping centers are left by truck drivers.

I agree! Truck Driver's eat more healthier than that!

[Roadmedic]

I agree! Truck Driver's eat more healthier than that!

I'll remember to tell all of the truck drivers at the Love's in the Springfield IL area that. There is not much of a choice at some stops.

[Larry]

I'll remember to tell all of the truck drivers at the Love's in the Springfield IL area that. There is not much of a choice at some stops.

I was being sarcastic!

[Roadmedic]

I was being sarcastic!

Good point.

But, most of the drivers seem to keep it on the dash.

[Larry]

Good point.

But, most of the drivers seem to keep it on the dash.

Good point.

[BumpInTheRoad]

The article also says something about people dumping household garbage and crap, maybe it's not the trucker's fault but the people in the community looking for something to bitch at!

I would imagine that it's probably everyone dumping trash.