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."

[Oberon]

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

Because the glass ones are getting harder to find?

[DannyTN]

There are three jugs in Utal and three jugs in Oregon. Is there something about Mormons and hippies that result in more jugs?

[battlegearboat]

Save A Tree Project

[MineralMan]

"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."

Not if you're a 58-year-old guy. But that reminds me of an incident. Once a year, I go to a wholesale show. It's exactly 600 miles from my house, and takes 11 hours to drive it...if you go non-stop.

I used to avoid drinking any fluids on that trip, just to cut down on stops. Also skipped meals, to save time.

Well, one time, I got to my destination (out in the desert), checked into my motel, then hit the bar for a drink before I ate.

Bingo, I woke up on the floor. I had fainted, of all things. I was dehydrated and a bit low on blood sugar, I guess, and that double Jameson just was a little too much for my ancient self.

Once I explained what happened to the nice Fire Department paramedics, they left me alone. I drank a huge glass of lemonade at the bar, sitting on a low chair, and was fine.

Now, I take 12 hours to get there. I drink a couple of quarts of water on the trip and eat twice on the way. No problems.

[fishtank]

"I don't know about the rest of you, but there are times **I** would gladly drop a buck or so for a clean, roomy place to do my business while on the road. . ."

Ummm, look for signs that say:

Exxon

Mobil

Chevron

Texaco

McDonalds

Stuckeys, etc.

[RAY]

Working hard to make this USA into a third world country.

[No Blue States]

Great idea.

Trap doors in the floorboard for the driver on the go?

[GovernmentShrinker]

Yes, but couldn't they just pour it out on the ground instead of leaving a full jug?

[MineralMan]

"Yes, but couldn't they just pour it out on the ground instead of leaving a full jug?
"

Hey, I'm not making excuses for this. I was just answering someone's question about who does this stuff. I'm against it. Someone asked why someone else would pee in a bottle. I was explaining.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Surf around the 'Net a little, and you'll find women's solutions for sale :)

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

"They're mostly found on interchanges near rest areas. Why can't they stop there?"

Because going in the woods is far preferable to going in one of the disgustingly filthy rest stop bathrooms. Not to mention the fags that patrol the rest stops near the urban centers. Clean up the rest areas and maybe they'll start getting used for something other than a place to get a quickie in the men's room with Bruce and his boyfriends.

[cyborg]

Why not just wear a Depends?

[al baby]

I don't know about the rest of you, but there are times **I** would gladly drop a buck or so for a clean, roomy place to do my business while on the road. . ."

Ummm, look for signs that say:

Exxon

Mobil

Chevron

Texaco

McDonalds


Unocal is one of the best places almost always nice facilty

[Unmarked Package]

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

If you think that’s odd, the history of such practices is even more bizarre! Subway motorman in New York City in the early 1900’s worked very long hours without a break and routinely wore a device called the “motorman’s friend”. It was a rubber urinal strapped to the lower leg inside the pants with a hose running up the pant leg ending in a funnel at the male member. Comparatively speaking, a detached plastic jug is downright civilized!

[RightWhale]

"People are getting more out of control."

Too much traffic, too much long-distance traffic, too few rest stops. Our bodies are so darned inconvenient some of the time.

[MineralMan]

"Why not just wear a Depends?

Not 'til I'm in my 70's, at least. I can hold it OK, but I tend to need to go every couple of hours, it seems. Always did have a small bladder. But, hey, thanks for the suggestion, eh?

[luvbach1]

I was not so much concerned about highway workers being spared the onerous chores; I think we would all agree that we would prefer not to have such goodies strewn at the roadside to remain until highway workers can gather them like posies.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

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

It's a fact. See my #51.

[luvbach1]

Will Dean carry the "Pee states?"

[firehunter]

See post #28 in general interest/chat on thread titled:
"2,666 jugs of urine found on highway"