We need to look closely and carefully at where all this trash comes from. During the warmer months it's clear that much of the trash is left by beachgoers, and it's disgusting. And for that, we need enforcement... and for that, we need to see some police presence (a phrase that is something of an oxymoron in West Haven) on the shoreline. But all through the colder months, an enormous amount of trash still finds its way to the shore, and we need to ask where it's coming from, how does it get there. Much of it washes up on shore, but MOST of it finds its way to the shore ultimately from peoples' homes, because of the way trash pickup is done in this town. It is a widespread problem that no one in the administration really wants to touch: people put out their garbage in ways that should be unacceptable, and would be anywhere else: days in advance of pickup, bags of trash piled up, and sometimes not even in bags. Once that trash is liberated, it blows or washes down the street. some of it finds its way to the shore, but look at the roadsides , anywhere there's something to trap this stuff. Here's a picture taken on Morse Ave less than one block from the beach; where would one suppose the trash that makes it past this point ends up? It's amazing to me to watch as people pile up their trash on the curb, often loose, poorly contained, and it seems that as far as they're concerned, once they put that trash there, it's no longer theirs and it's no longer their responsibility. How can we change that?

@Concerned, that is so true and so sad. I see the same exact thing all the time as I take my dog for a walk in my neighborhood (people not picking up after their dogs is another huge issue, but I won't hijack your thoughtful comment) that is about block from the beach. I see garbage cans literally overflowing with trash if the bags are in a container at all. They are ripped apart by critters and birds and a disgusting mess ensues. That mess is left behind and the owners just wait for it to go away. I have been observing a rather large chicken bone in front of a home (I have to fight to keep my dog away from it) and the owners still have not picked it up. This happened in the trash collection about 3 weeks ago. I’m not picking it up on principle.
I am not sure if there are fines that can be imposed, but if not they certainly would not be enforced by the WHPD. It appears that somewhere along the way WHPD has been changed to a ‘dispatch only in case of emergency’ department, and emergency as defined by them. I can give you many examples of the emergency only dispatch criteria that has suddenly has taken place in WH, but again that would be hijacking your thoughtful comment.
Or there’s that other department in city hall that likes to take a record of your calls and then they’ll put you on a list. They like lists a lot in that department. I have been on the list to get my sidewalks fixed for over 8 years. But I digress.
We can confront the offenders, but I am quite sure there would be retaliation. It has happened to me already. We can clean up the trash ourselves, which I have done by taking a trash bag with me on my walks with said dog. But that, as you said, just perpetrates the owner’s irresponsibility.
Not sure how we can change it. I have been told on this very See Click Fix site by another commenter that I should vote out the current administration and see if that changes things. The last voting session I literally just voted for anyone running for any office, including the Mayor, who wasn’t already in that position. Didn’t matter whether I knew who they were or not. D or R or IND, didn’t matter to me, as long as it wasn’t the person who was there now. That didn’t work. I have also been told to run for some political office myself. Can’t do that, my parents always taught me that honesty was the best policy.
West Haven can be as beautiful and popular as Guilford, Madison, Westport, or any other shoreline town on the “Gold Coast”. Unfortunately there just isn’t enough motivation anywhere in the government to really affect change. It’s a very different place than it was when I moved here 20 odd years ago, and I believe the only change I can affect is the one that I can control. Move.
I apologize, it looks like I hijacked your comment after all!

Dear UGH, please don't apologize! You didn't hijack my comment -- you've made some very valuable points that help bring some focus and logic to this problem. This is a very VERY dysfunctional city! I've also stopped picking up the garbage (except on the beach, where it harms the shoreline ecology... or at least what's left of it): sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better. It's sad and pathetic, to see homes whose front yards and sidewalks are littered with trash, but you can be sure that their rides are spotless. What's wrong with this picture?

Thanks, Concerned. Maybe we can get together to start some sort of civic action group of like minded individuals who want to once again be proud of the city in which we live. Maybe put some pressure on the government folks who would like to think that we don't care. I'll do some research and come back here and let you know what I find out if you are interested.

On another note, the bulk and trash that was supposed to have been picked up yesterday (thurs) is still sitting outside. I called the city today. I called the number of the Department That Likes Lists Alot, couldn't even get through. Phone wouldn't even ring. Then I called the Mayors office, and that poor assistant, who is the nicest woman in the world, was left to run interference for the DTLTML and The Mayor. She explained to me that the reason this happened was because Sandy caused so much damage that there is too much to pick up. She said that there would be a HUGE clean up and all will be nice and tidy by Monday. Yes, Monday.

Trying to be a nice as possible I reminded her gently the Sandy was, like, 7 months ago. Did we not foresee this happening? Couldn't the city have been a little more proactive knowing how much people would probably have accumulated between that and the snow storm? Is the word 'proactive' even listed in the city's dictionary? I mean really, had they asked even I could have told them there would have been way too much to do in a regularly scheduled pick up.

I also gently mentioned that, not for nothing, but because of today's weather there is garbage ALL OVER THE PLACE now. Who's going to pick that up? The city? Highly unlikely. But she assured me they would. Ok.

Lastly, I told her that since the city knew that this was the plan, they should have gotten the word out to residents sooner. Then she wouldn't have had to field all these phone calls for the folks that I am sure make a lot more money than she does. They should have to deal with this, not her. She asked how that would have been possible. I said use the reverse 911 system. She said...you guessed it...that's only for emegencies. I again gently reminded her that the PD uses it to tell us all when the town hall style meetings with the PD will be held. I usually get three of these a year. Oh. She said she would suggest it. Thanks nice lady, but you will get nowhere, just like the rest of us.

So that's my latest tale of woe from the "friendliest city in CT" ! Maybe we should work toward changing that to the "cleanest" city in CT. I think that will attract a lot more visitors, you know...first impressions.

The trash & bulk trash pickup (ocean near woodmont rotary) last week was a day late & there was a really windy day. It seems like the public works dept does their best weekly to open trash bags as they are loading because after trash day there is always a bunch of trash in streets but this time is ridiculous! We do close our trash bags well and pick up the debris the public works leaves on our lawn from trash & recycling weekly but obviously many people do not. West Haven should get standard trash & recycling bins for residents (like New Haven) that are easier for employees to empty into trucks & keep trash contained.

The trash & bulk trash pickup (ocean near woodmont rotary) last week was a day late & there was a really windy day. It seems like the public works dept does their best weekly to open trash bags as they are loading because after trash day there is always a bunch of trash in streets but this time is ridiculous! We do close our trash bags well and pick up the debris the public works leaves on our lawn from trash & recycling weekly but obviously many people do not. West Haven should get standard trash & recycling bins for residents (like New Haven) that are easier for employees to empty into trucks & keep trash contained.

A big part of the problem is that residents are not required to place their trash in a can with a lid. With so many bags heaped up, they tear open easily and trash blows all over the place. Residents should be REQUIRED to use a trash can with a lid! A simple solution.

Roadside garbage is a huge issue in WH. I have seen cars push huge McDonald's and Berger King bags out of their car windows on Elm & Kimberly rd, on to the road and continue straight into New Haven. What the heck is that?
Why doesn't WH have $200 - no littering signs & fine, and enforce it?

West Haven does not enforce ANY rules, even when they do post them. There is no political will to improve the environment, so the city will remain true to its moniker "Waste Haven".

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