From the Facebook page Quartzsite Happenings with The Adventures of Finius the Skinniest.
A couple months back as I was driving to the claim, a coyote, running across a wash, caught my eye because of the large white garbage bag in his mouth. A little farther down the road I see this. It is within spitting distance from town in a ‘DAY USE ONLY’ area.
I took pictures, only because I knew they’d leave all that trash. Yesterday, I drove by and the trailer was gone…but the trash stayed. There are at least 15 campers and tents in this one ‘day use only area’ alone and one even has a deck attached. One thing they all have in common is there is trash all around them. There are absolutely no facilities whatsoever out here and each one looks like this.
THIS STARTED HERE LAST YEAR and has grown. I used to see a lady walking her dog every morning on this BLM road, but not anymore. It is now not so friendly.
BLM is definitely not the best stewards of our land. After enough people complain or someone gets hurt they’ll move them out, but all the trash will stay. I know the story the agencies use… too much land/roads to cover and not enough manpower; but, it’s awful funny I always see stuff like this and they don’t. Seems like there is always money for new trucks but not manual labor. This is a disgrace!
Places like this are so bad for nature and people. You can see Quartzsite in the background of this picture. With that being said, there are absolutely no facilities here and all that trash draws the wildlife here then to town – and the coyotes in town get shot and all because of this.
I’ve dealt with BLM and met some really good ones and ones not so much. Sadly, BLM has had to have driven past this; it’s been like this for over a year. The only power I have is through you, social media. If this gets shared enough BLM will have no choice but to do their job. I believe it’s BLM’s job to also clean up the trash that is left behind – they are stewards of our land. It is a health hazard and could be very dangerous for someone that’s not a professional as you have no idea what’s in the bags. And now there’s so much garbage that it looks like dump trucks will be needed. Please help me by sharing this. I think it’s the only way we can stop this.
Thank you so much, and the wildlife thanks you, too.
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##RVT931
People are just so trashy.
Be part of the solution. Pick up what you can handle and discard it in the dumpster facilities provided in long term camping areas on BLM land. I’ve done that. I complain about the slobs, but I do what I can to make it better.
My brother and nephew do trail clean up in the San Bernardino mountains on the off road trails for the same reason. It keeps the public areas open for use by the public.
I don’t spend my life doing this, but I feel like I’m making a dent in the problem.
It is the campers responsibility to pick up after themselves! When they enter most BLM areas, at least those marked there is a sign that says they are responsible for their trash. No dumping. If garbage is left continually in an area will be closed to all. To help preserve the place for ourselves and others we help pick up the trash. We are the stewards of our land.
It is not the responsibility of the BLM–which supervises millions and millions of acres with extreme skeleton staffing–to pick up your trash. Do it yourselves. One of the reasons why I question, why would I want to go there and risk walking on someone’s sewage when I’m sure many just dump it in the desert, and not at provided dump stations.
The rule is , pack it in , pack it out !!
Rules! in 2020 Robert?
This issue a BLM problem? Really? I seriously doubt that BLM is the source of all this garbage. It speaks to a larger issue across many topics. Someone else being responsible for the irresponsbile actions of others. If folks would do what should be done then this garbage would not be here and require our tax dollars to clean it up. BLM land is not nor was it ever supposed to be “campgrounds” and if these irresponsible folks continue the practice be ready for the BLM to take severe action. I hate the sight of this as much as the next person but what I hate even more is having to clean up others peoples messes….whether it be garbage or consequences of behavior. Personal accountability should a long way to solve many issues like this one and we all would be better off.
If BLM would enforce the 14-day camping rule, this would help.
BLMs responsibility? Their fix will be enforcing NO camping. That is enforceable. 14 day limits with the 10’s of thousands of rigs here? Not very enforceable. Dumpsters available? A very good idea!
It is sad, but it is the way of the future… as people start living out of RV’s as the alternative to buying a house, their budget barely buys them gas. There are now 330,000,000 people populating the US and increasing every year. As a comparison, Canada is home for about 30,000,000. Our country has developed a huge thirst for alcohol, drugs and guns. Crime has and will increase yearly on all fronts. As the baby boomers increase in age, most haven’t saved a dime and will live on SS as their main stay and the have’s will foot the bill eventually, if not already. RV and tent living have taken over many of our larger city streets and sidewalks, I especially notice this in Los Angeles, where I reside… don’t expect the government do solve this or any problem soon…
“Our country has developed a huge thirst for alcohol, drugs and guns” You’re way crazy. Those things have nothing to do with this. People are getting more lazy, more rude, and think nothing is their problem. Someone else will clean it up. It’s my land, so I can do what I want. Just look at all the damage at Joshua Tree during the last Gvmt shutdown. Fools 4-wheeling all over, people leaving trash, no one cares. As for the rest of your rant… it’s just that, a rant.
I recall my grandmother having no running water and outdoor toilet until the day she died. Even poorer neighbors came to her well to get water. They were poor but they were never lazy nor trashy. Being poor just seems to be the current excuse for otherwise lazy, trashy, feel-sorry-for-myself folks. Where there is no punishment or reward, there is no behavior change.
It’s not the government’s place to clean up after these “babies”! You see this take care of it or get after the offenders directly. That’s your responsibility not the Los Angeles govt nor any other.
Why, poor and trash, are synonymous of each other is baffling. I’ve been poor, but in my recall always found a bar of soap, some water and clean clothes.
I think filth maybe as much a lifestyle, as it is not being able to find soap, water or clean clothes – all pretty much FREE things today if you tap into the right agency.
Mr. Johnson needs to update his population of Canada figure also.
We’re closer to “about” 36 M, depending on the flow of illegals into and out of this country daily. Some folks coming from countries where the temp never got below 70 are finding Canada’s weather/climate decides their length of stay here more so than ALL the free stuff.
Sadly, BLM may just close the area to avoid these events.
People have stopped caring, because they have no future…so very sad…
Because we will all be dead in 10 more years due to climate whatever you call it is no excuse. These are inconsiderate slobs who must be reigned in and punished. Then they can die after 10 more years like the rest of us. Saave?
The BLM needs to step up and take care of this, I tried to share this on Face Book but will not go what did I do wrong?
Hi, Charles. Thanks for trying to share this. I checked with our social media expert, Jessica, and she says there aren’t any technical issues at the moment so it’s probably “operator error.” Here are her suggestions: “There’s a little F Facebook button at the top of the article. It should share directly to his timeline if he’s logged in. Or he can copy and paste the URL into his timeline.” I hope that helps. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Rightfully so, the BLM sanctions and heavily patrols Permitted events which have strict laws/rules regarding cleaning up the desert after an event.
Why can’t BLM enforce/correct this blatant blight right outside of town?
I would like to respond to this complaint about trash on BLM land. I do NOT believe it is the responsibility of BLM employees to pick up after inconsiderate people. That trash probably has human waste in it which means heightened health hazards to the folks picking it up. And this becomes, once again, a situation where someone else has to be responsible for people who don’t want to be. We have allowed ourselves to be brainwashed to the idea that “someone” needs to fix our problems for us or clean up after our messes. As if we are helpless and not able to fix our own messes. Which does nothing to encourage responsibility and does everything to encourage runaway, corrupt politics and politicians. I think BLM employees need to be empowered to hand out tickets to people trashing their campsites while they are still in the campsite. Additionally, volunteer days could be set up to pick up trash with some incentive accrued for helping out. This could help educate the public about how awful this problem is. But ultimately, responsibility for trash and pollution is one we all bear and not just underpaid government employees – even ones with bad attitudes. You could organize a volunteer day or days to pick up trash in the various areas that you roam in. Maybe get area folks to brainstorm ideas to help keep their environment cleaner. It’s OUR planet, not just BLM’s or National Forest or the National Park Service. It’s OUR land and if we let it become polluted it’s OUR responsibility and shame. Peace.
I agree totally with Diane. The slobs who leave trash need more than a ticket. This goes way back to kindergarten education. Humans are nothing but slobs with no regard for the environment. And it’s getting worse.
Agree with both Sharon and Diane, but in my city where we have a small army of volunteers running around streets, parks and lane ways picking up after dope addicts. I think by that effort alone we can conclude, those of us doing the picking up, have lost the battle.
We admit to it by allowing the laws that exist to be ignored, by officialdom.
As the Police Chief here said a short time ago in reference to drug crimes which have blown up “we can’t jail ourselves out of this”
How dam sad, this time in which we live!!!
Well said
I wonder if we could float an idea to field offices of the BLM to offer an extra week in a two week stay area if we ‘volunteer’ to go around and pick up trash and take it to the free dump. I don’t mind helping out by picking up trash but I will NOT pay to dump someone else’s trash! I draw a line there.
Why did the license plate get blocked out?????
Thanks Bob, let everyone see those plates and shame the owners.
We should leave it and have some wacko chase em down and harm them? There are countless people like this, this is just one example. Nothing is gained by publicly shaming them.
bring it in, take it out. Why are people becoming such slobs and expect the rest of us to clean up the messes they make? Where I live it is becoming a big problem, I found empty water bottles and other trash on my front lawn and side lawn every day. It seems like people are either walking or driving by and just throw their garbage out.
Why, you ask Paulette……quite simply it’s because we now live in the age of entitlement. Sickening I know, but it’s reality. What galls me is seeing all the yellow urine filled bottles strewn all along the highway because some folks are just too lazy to stop and find a tree or bathroom.
ANY off ramp along ANY Interstate, just pull off , stop and look around… you’ll find anything from fast food wrappers to dirty disposable diapers, dog poo, broken glass cigarette butts…you name it. People don’t care anymore. What sickens me the most is the dirty diapers. Human waste. What have we become as a society?
Looks like these “campers” just might be related to the ones in San Francisco. Realistically, there should be large dumpsters in the BLM areas so trash etc could be dumped into these. Just have the dumpsters lined up so the trucks could get them easily and get them to a dump. However, some “campers” are just too lazy to do this. A few years ago along the Arkansas River, we stayed at a Army Core of Engineers (?) I think it was one of those…campsite just slightly off the river near where there was a lock. The dump station was overfilled, and had not been emptied, the trash dumpsters were overflowing. There were a few people looked like they had stayed for more than 14 days. Like permanent. The location was really beautiful, and did provide electric and water. But no sewer. Because of no upkeep, the site was becoming unusable.
Thanks for the rant (for what its worth)
“Looks like these “campers” just might be related to the ones in San Francisco.”
Naw… these people are homegrown in every state and community…
This type of trash behavior will kill the future of RV’s full timers. There needs to be very heavy fines if not jail time for trash violators. It needs to be strictly enforced and we as Rv’rs need to call when we see trash on our precious BLS properties and if able to video it in progress and send that video with the license plate numbers being visible.
Heavy fines…like starting at $3000.
Heavy fines? Yep. Jail time? Nope. Jails are full NOW, and don’t need minor offenders added to the population.
What bothers me the most is that there is a free dump those people could have taken all their trash too. They are the people ruining it for all of the responsible camper/vanners that use that area.
Why are people ruining………………….? Kat, sorry to inform, but some folks are just plain trashy
I think we should use beyond the pale litterbugs for target practice…….
Even if it makes more to clean up.
It’s revolting.
We make a point of leaving our campsite clean, even cleaning up after the previous camper. There is no excuse for this kind of behavior. Why are you blocking their license plate number?
Trashy sites abounded long before Trump took office. Get a grip!
Lighten up Francis.
I’ve witnessed Trump, being accused of a lot of stuff but this one takes the cake!
Actually it’s the RVers job to clean up the trash and take it with them.
Leave No Trace.
BLM should not have to clean it up, but should enforce “leave no trace”.
Those people aren’t RVers!! They are trailer trash!!
I agree, personal responsibility…
That was done by “Finius the Skinniest” on his FB page, where this post came from. (Maybe it was a stolen plate anyway. Just sayin’.) —Diane at RVtravel.com
Sorry, but it’s NOT President Trump’s fault! BLM has enforcement authority and they have their orders. It’s their job to enforce the law, and clearly they are not.
Your right!
The trash at Quartzsite is a travesty!!!
It’s not just the BLM it’s the whole town!
There is no place for campers to dump our trash!!!!
Last year the BLM has a huge dumpster at the campground hosts site on Dome Rock Road and it was nearly full by the time we deposited our trash. This year NO dumpster!
So it’s a trip to the towns transfer station two miles north of town and it’s only open Sunday through Wednesday 7:30 am – 2:30pm.
And of course NO ONE in town or at any of the venders seems to know it exists since they too are like us, out of towners who are here for just a few weeks.
The town and the various vender venues ought to be required by the city of Quartzsite to have large trash receptacles for the people who buy from them and bring the venders to Quartzsite in the first in the first place. They could could easily make the venders or the land owners add trash receptacles.
Not fair to ask vendors to supply trash cans.. they pay a lot to stay there. Our world is out of control!!
Yes they do!!!!
Not everything is PRESIDENT TRUMPS fault!! Please…..
1 – 3 % of RV’s demand all things go there way. They say: Why don’t they do this… or that for me. If they won’t I’ll do this and/or that to them and/or desecrater the lands someway. I’ve witnessed too many that break codes of good conduct and good old RV’rs common sense. Most of these abusers , I use the term loosely, “people” camp the Free areas and use or try to use any available services of paid campers and turn around and … they actually bitch and/or lie at a host or paid campers of not considering their particular issues and/or demands. This all has consequences against 97 -99% of us respectable (BLM), minded campers. More rules are applied to our BLM regions because of these perpetual problematic campers. Simple perks are/might be taken away . Upgrades are less to be considered and/or reviewed. BLM personal are less luckily to pursue the many complaints from good abiding paid seasonal campers.
Then there are some other types of abusers. Hunters trashes our BLM land by making certain areas target ranges. Firing there weapons at glass or metal containers leaves piles of trash that is a eyesores. Others use the sites as dumps discarding old bed mattresses, tires to what have they to get rid of. Some come on the BLM lands to steal. Our generators, propane tanks and other personal camping items are stolen ruining anyone’s camping experience.
I’m older now. My future camping days are numbered. I’ve enjoyed 35 years of crisscrossing these North American lands and meeting so many great people along the way. As in all good things times change or are a’changing. I wish everyone nothing but Happy Trails and Great camping experiences.
This is NOT a new problem; it is simply people being people.
There are two kinds of people: those who drop cigarette butts in the urinal; and those who must pick them out. (And the third kind, the majority of us, who either don’t care or who stand beside the urinal looking in and demanding that somebody do something about all those soggy cigarette butts.)
So some people will continue to dump trash on the public lands or any other place that’s handy. They’ve done this for as long as I can remember. And people stand around and complain and yell at the County Sheriff to go arrest them people who dumped the old refrigerator at the turnout on the county road. And he doesn’t, because he doesn’t know who did it, and he’s short of deputies to go chasing around, looking. And the county commissioners order the road crew to go post yet another “No Dumping” sign.
And there’s a few precious souls who quietly put on their gloves and go with their pickup trucks to load up the trash and haul it to the dump. Just because they feel the need to make a positive change in their surroundings.
And yelling at the BLM bitterly and endlessly will result in only one thing: gates and chains shutting the area down to ALL users, while the Director implements a study for access fees, travel permits, and enforcement budgets. And publishes another Federal Register Notice shutting down all camping except in official, seasonal, registration and fee-based campgrounds.
So: be a dumper, a do-nothing complainer, or a quiet doer. Which is it?
There is a place on 95 just outside of quartzsite it is a public dump where you can go and dump your trash for free we just dumped our trash a few days ago they’re so more signage should be placed around quartzsite And on BLM to notify people that there is a public trash dump right on 95 just north of quartzite
Usually when you check in with the volunteer 2-week permit writer when you enter the short term stay areas you are informed of where the free dumping site is and what days they are open. There is no excuse for not hauling your trash there.
Since when should BLM provide trash pickup? Why shouldn’t the vendors and city foot this bill? They are the ones inviting and profiting.
The city is miles away from the day use area (at least Plamosa Rd) and isn’t responsible for garbage pickup, nor are the vendors. I guess it could be said that the Hi Jolly day use area is “Spitting Distance” from town. It is used a lot more than Plamosa Rd (which is why WE go to Plamosa Rd).
Sorry, I didn’t mean “day use”. I meant the two week stay areas.
and what side makes the mess, it`s called accountability, sport
Why are you still (on Friday, 2/7) still plugging this? It fundamentally misunderstands the BLM’s limitations in these situation and the roots of those limitations. If you want more enforcement, you have to pay for it. Period.
Soon many areas of BLM lands will be closed to camping permanently due to low lifes trashing it out.
Get your political hate crap off this site!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
According to the original poster this isn’t even Quartzite. You need to better check your facts before you start adding your own spin.
But the original poster also said, “You can see Quartzsite in the background of this picture.” So it’s pretty darn close. And since Quartzsite is more than 36 square miles, this location may be within the Quartzsite city limits. But you’re splitting hairs here, Kris. —Diane at RVtravel.com
Sorry, but nothing can be done about trashy people except complain about it , dedicate tax structure to clean it up, make it off limits or dont go there? Occasionally there is a pep rally to clean it up but that always proves to be a non- sustainable tactic. FINE THEM! You punish most people by getting into their pockets, what are you going to take from these people? Socks with holes in them? A pocket full of cigarette butts? Maybe you could take their un-used tooth brush….”tooth brush not teeth brush! ” These people don’t think twice about leaving garbage behind because THEY DONT CARE! The fact that you see garbage and trash at the beach, in the park, on the trails, at rest stops, at picnic areas, at docks and piers, is because they are open to people for free. This is part of your “free pass”. Example you pay to camp on Chisos Basin CG in Big Bend. This fee pays for host’s and cans.. NO TRASH anywhere, Is it right, NO, but? Free use is always an invitation for abuse!