Highway Workers Lament Increase of Human Waste

AP via Seattle PI.com ^

[marshmallow]

KENNEWICK -- Forced to clean up an increasing number of jugs and bags of human waste along highways, the Adams County Waste Reduction & Recycling office took out a full-page newspaper advertisement to combat the problem.

The ad features a photo of a plastic milk jug filled with urine, and the message, "Okay, One last time: This is not a urinal."

From March 4 to Nov. 27, 2002, one Adams County highway cleanup crew picked up 2,666 jugs of urine and 67 bags with human excrement in them.

The problem isn't limited to Adams County.

Megan Warfield, litter program coordinator for the state Department of Ecology, had posters printed that are similar to the newspaper ad and made them available for any county that wanted them. About a dozen counties have ordered copies to deal with the problem, she said.

"All of the cleanup crews encounter it. It's pretty much the same around the state," she said. "They're mostly found on interchanges near rest areas. Why can't they stop there?"

Ninety-nine percent of urine is sterile, but could be dangerous if it contains hepatitis or blood, she said.

Warfield said human waste falls under a newly created category that the Legislature created last spring: potentially dangerous litter.

Human waste, dirty diapers, cigarettes, cigars, tobacco or other items that can start a fire, and hypodermic needles or medical instruments designed to cut or pierce, fall into that category.

The fine is $1,025 for anyone caught dumping such waste, but the new penalty doesn't seem to be easing the problem.

Karen Cagle, who supervises highway cleanup crews in Eastern Washington, had never heard of urine jugs when she started her job in 1989. Now the numbers grow each year.

"Several years ago, we started finding them and didn't know what to do with them and left them. But you can't leave it there or the freeways would be (flooded)," she said. "It's incredible what's out there. Where is it going to stop?"

Gary Lembacher, who oversees the litter program in Eastern Washington, said he does not let the kids on his work crews pick up the bottles.

"I just don't trust any liquids," he said. "You don't know if it's pesticide or if there's something used in methamphetamine."

Taxpayer money not only pays for highway cleanup, but also pays for the state Department of Transportation to dispose of the human waste at the landfills.

"I don't know what the answer is," he said. "People are getting more out of control."

[CygnusXI]

Makes butt flickers look good :/

[Cap Huff]

"How can I urinate when my people are in bondage?" S.H

[maryz]

Nowadays, any public restroom facility on a highway is likely to be a (closed) office of pamphlets for tourist traps, a few snack and soda machines, often behind a "fence" of interwoven chains, and some rarely-serviced restrooms that are both inadequate for the demand, and generally filthy beyond belief.

In Massachusetts, from what I hear, they're likely to be homosexual hunting grounds.

[r9etb]

Nowadays, any public restroom facility on a highway is likely to be a (closed) office of pamphlets for tourist traps, a few snack and soda machines, often behind a "fence" of interwoven chains, and some rarely-serviced restrooms that are both inadequate for the demand, and generally filthy beyond belief.

I don't know where you've been driving -- that's almost never been my experience out here in the west, and I can't think of a state west of Colorado where I haven't had the opportunity to stop....

In fact, contrary to your statement, the filthiest bathrooms I've found tend to be in privately-owned gas stations.

[johnb838]

You forgot dangerous. Drug-dealing, prostitution, violence. I won't stop in one of those places after dark. No way in hell.

I've thought about using a jug numerous times as I don't like to stop. I can't seem to figure out a way that wouldn't get urine all over the cab of my truck. If I did I would dispose of it properly. Ive heard of such a thing as a "Pilots Best Friend" which I assume is some kind of hose & funnel arrangement. I've thought of catheterizing myself or wearing a diaper, but have not gone that far yet either.

Oh yeah, one more thing. I've heard that it makes the highway workers real happy when they're mowing in the tall grass on a hot summer day and they run over one of the above mentioned plastic jugs.

[sarasota]

That's a classic saddamism!

[MineralMan]

"Someone please help me understand why someone would whiz in a plastic jug."

Truckers, folks driving on business, weary parents with young children who would have to stop every half an hour. All are up against it. Most interstates have few rest stops and many drivers are loathe to pull off the highway. For truckers, it's even worse. They don't need fuel, since their tanks hold lots. They're on the clock and have to get from here to there in a minimum of time.

The solution? Rest stops and plenty of them. No rest stops? You get folks peeing in jars, bottles, empty McDonalds drink containers...whatever.

Not an excuse...just an explanation.

[ErnBatavia]

Caltrans Bump!

[luvbach1]

That's a key point: Use jugs if necessary but dispose of them properly yourself.

I do think a significant part of this phenomenon is caused by migrants (can you say illegal?) who are accustomed to this method of elimination and who will leave the waste at the roadside because they do not respect our society, or look upon it as a mere extension of their own. I used to own rental property in San Diego. The offspring of illegals, lately come from living in a cardboard box, would amuse themselves by beating down the hedges out front with metal rods. Illegals would enter garages and defecate on the floor or on the sidewalk. I hasten do add that there are American low-life slobs as well.

[bikerman]

having been an over the road truck driver my partner and I would wiz in a juice container (they had a larger opening) because their was no place to pull over sometimes on the highway I or my partner would wake up in the cab and have to go so it was easier to go into the juice container than try to pull over off the road somewhere We usually saved the bottle till we pulled into a rest area but on a few occasions I would throw them out along with the others at the truck inspection sites next to the do not litter signs give the damn DOT inspectors something to do.

[No Blue States]

They should add some sort of little urinals to a car, and have waste disposal for a dollar like they do used motor oil.
Im not sure what the women would do though.

[luvbach1]

Agree, more rest stops would help. But there would remain those too lazy, or who perceive themselves in too great a hurry, to stop.

[Junior]

Whatever happened to just whizzing on the ground?

[ErnBatavia]

Prostate problem drivers

Several years ago, I had what turned out to be a bladder stone which 'pressed' just the right nerve where I constantly - and mean never endingly - felt like I needed to take a whiz...and now.

I got stuck in a horrific traffic jam, and damn near crying, used my cell to call Mrs. Bat to get me a doctor's appointment.

The doc thought it was that gland, but shortly thereafter I peed a pea and was instantly healed....whew!

[al baby]

Laziness?

Excactly those dam highway workes are just lazy .Just pick up those bottles of pp and do do and be happy you have a job

[evets]

Bush knew.

[Question_Assumptions]

Sounds like an National Endowment for the Arts project.

They would have to figure out how to fit the crucifix through the narrow opening to get a grant. Sort of a "ship in the bottle" excercise for the depraved.

[Alberta's Child]

The best way to drive long distances is to drink a lot of water. Your efforts to "hold it in," so to speak, will require so much focus and energy that you will never fall asleep at the wheel.

[al baby]

Im not sure what the women would do though

Hell my twin sisters got better aim and flow than i do

[Normal4me]

Funnel?>;-) Another idea would to just place big Bullseye signs above a receptacle on highways and make a game out of it. If ya miss, you either have to stop and pick it up or pay the fine.