The trouble with litter

Trashing the valley Roadside garbage becoming major problem in Flathead

A bra, a mattress, a pair of boxer shorts … two pornographic pictures … a roll of black tape …

The reality behind this provocative assortment of items is even trashier than you can imagine.

The articles were part of a substantial collection of garbage picked up last weekend along a short section of U.S. 93 in front of the county landfill - and from all reports, they're just the tip of a filthy iceberg that's spreading throughout the valley.

Dave Prunty, director of the landfill, said he's received numerous calls and letters this year from people complaining about the huge amounts of trash lining local highways, particularly along U.S. 93.

"This is my fourth spring here, and the amount of trash seems horrid compared to previous years," Prunty said.

Several callers have suggested that construction waste accounts for the bulk of the pollution. There also seems to be a lot of fast-food containers and other garbage that people throw into the back of their trucks.

"There's plenty of blame to go around everywhere," Prunty said. "We all need to do a better job of taking care of trash."

Flathead County planner Kirsten Holland was so embarrassed by the amount of garbage lining roadways this year that she badgered five of her co-workers into volunteering to pick up trash in front of the landfill for several hours last weekend.

"We filled 32 garbage bags in less than a mile," Holland said. "There was a lot of contractor material - drywall, insulation, lots of Styrofoam. Lots of fast food packaging. Two dead dogs. We got a lot of positive honks from people driving by."

Prunty said the landfill is running radio ads to educate area residents, encouraging them to make sure that garbage is covered and secured before they head out onto highways.

If that doesn't work, the landfill board is considering the possibility of raising the fee it charges contractors and others who show up with uncovered, unsecured loads.

BesIDES volunteers, Prunty said there are several other options to help address the roadside garbage issue. In other parts of the country, he's seen jail inmates cleaning the highways. Business and service organizations also can help out by making donations to groups who pick up trash.

At least one local business takes that approach: Montana Coffee Traders recently donated $200 to a Flathead Force youth soccer team after it cleaned a two-mile section of U.S. 93 near its store. The team got the money it needed to register for an upcoming tournament, while Coffee Traders got a more attractive roadway.

Heather Egolf, who runs the local Adopt-A-Highway program for the Montana Department of Transportation, said she's also received numerous calls about filthy roadways this spring.

"I'm getting lots of complaints about the area near the dump," she said.

Since she took over the program six months ago, Egolf has been updating the list of active Adopt-A-Highway participants. When she gets calls about particular sections of highway, she contacts the groups or individuals responsible for that area.

"People have just started their spring pick-ups this year," she said. "We have a lot of groups signed up to collect trash on Earth Day," which is April 22.

The Adopt-A-Highway program requires a two-year commitment from participants. Volunteers can go to MDT's Kalispell office to fill out applications and pick out the two-mile sections of highway for which they'll be responsible.

"They're only required to clean two or three times a year," Egolf said. "We provide the safety vests, garbage bags, road signs and a roster of information to talk about at the safety meeting. Our crews will pick up the garbage bags. The volunteers tell us how many people participated and the number of bags of garbage they collect. It typically ranges from 14 to 45 bags, depending on the section of highway."

Anyone interested in the Adopt-A-Highway program can call Egolf at 751-2006.

"It's a fabulous program," Prunty said. "And thank God for the people who are willing to donate their time to do it."

Reporter Bill Spence may be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at bspence@dailyinterlake.com.