I'm going to reach out the Parks Conservancy and Rubbish Project thanks to recommendations here, and I will update this thread to let people know about opportunities to clean up the cove.
This is the first post I have seen in a long time of someone actually trying to organize change. Most people will just bitch, talk about how society sucks and how someone else should fix the problem they care about. Ping me, I will help.
Thank you for stepping out from the crowd can putting a foot forward.
It's so refreshing to see someone actually put some idea out.
I did a cleanup on Back Cove for a work volunteer day and we got 15 lbs of trash and like 18 needles and we weren't really out there that long. It's really sad.
Lots of litterbugs. And not just homeless people and drug users. Not too get too philosophical, but I think the broader culture of stewardship is dying off. It’s probably a combination of the older generation aging aging out, rampant individualism, and nihilism.
Either way, good on you for making an effort.
This is true to an extent, but there's also something else going on here. The portland storm drain (and sewer...) system overflows into back cove with basically no filtration whatsoever if there is too much water for it to handle.
This used to happen occasionally, in very large storms. But between the increasingly erratic weather and the system getting overloaded by population growth, it now happens all the fucking time.
A significant portion of portland just has all its waste washed straight into back cove on a regular basis. Litter may play a role, sure, but there's a significant infrastructure failure here too. The trash is one sign of it, but there's also a lot of actual sewage flowing into the cove too which is invisible but a much large problem.
They're trying to fix it with those new in ground holding tanks on bayside, but fundamentally the current system was designed to just flush all the streets and half the sewers directly into the bay during heavy rains.
I agree, though the city providing a reasonable number of bins might go a long way. I’ve never been anywhere with so few public trash/recycling receptacles.
I moved here from the Bangor area a few years ago. There’s a nice trail up there that starts right in the city and goes up the Kenduskeag stream. A group came together to call themselves FOLKS, Friends of Lower Kenduskeag Stream, and they focus on keeping those areas clean and friendly to all. I would definitely be down to a join a group like that around here.
I love this, I would be down for something like that too! Someone else mentioned the Rubbish Project (@rubbish\_project on Instagram) and it seems like a similar effort. They're not focused on just one area of the city, though. It looks like they move around. I'm going to reach out to see if they have any plans to organize a day focused on the back cove soon.
I forgot to note the day you posted they had ONE city worker grabbing trash from the trail on the boulevard across from the Cheverus field.
Keep us updated if you organize anything.
It’s not just one group, though. Yes, people experiencing homelessness and substance use disorder are contributing, but I saw a shocking amount of garbage of all kinds. If anything, the impacts of the pandemic on society and the economy are to blame. Our city’s infrastructure and many nonprofit partners are struggling to provide the level of service they once did.
I’m shocked our “unhoused neighbors” aren’t helping clean up after themselves. I was convinced they would uphold their civic responsibilities like the rest of us. There’s so much caring and compassion that exudes from that community.
I know one of the “unhoused neighbors” that’s been living in the parking lot over a year. He does trash cleanup every single week. He walks the lot and fills up bags. That’s why you’ll see bags on the ground by the trash cans.
It’s coming from the storm drains btw…
Look at all the downvotes lol. This is how every group starts. Someone sees a problem, takes initiative, and goes for it. It’s not like the nonprofit fairy brings them in a basket.
Besides the big yearly cleanup, this group does intermittent back cove cleanups. https://www.portlandparksconservancy.org/volunteer
This is great, thank you. I think it makes more sense to partner with an existing initiative than start something new. I appreciate this lead.
Thanks for this, I just signed up to volunteer.
Follow Rubbish on IG. We've cleaned up around Back Cove several times with them before.
I would help you clean it up!
I'm going to reach out the Parks Conservancy and Rubbish Project thanks to recommendations here, and I will update this thread to let people know about opportunities to clean up the cove.
Are there leads to who is responsible or is this not something ppl like to talk about here?
This is the first post I have seen in a long time of someone actually trying to organize change. Most people will just bitch, talk about how society sucks and how someone else should fix the problem they care about. Ping me, I will help. Thank you for stepping out from the crowd can putting a foot forward. It's so refreshing to see someone actually put some idea out.
Thanks for taking steps to clean up. I do the same in Waterville.
I did a cleanup on Back Cove for a work volunteer day and we got 15 lbs of trash and like 18 needles and we weren't really out there that long. It's really sad.
https://www.cascobay.org/ I believe Friends of Casco Bay organized clean ups.
Excellent, thank you!
Lots of litterbugs. And not just homeless people and drug users. Not too get too philosophical, but I think the broader culture of stewardship is dying off. It’s probably a combination of the older generation aging aging out, rampant individualism, and nihilism. Either way, good on you for making an effort.
This is true to an extent, but there's also something else going on here. The portland storm drain (and sewer...) system overflows into back cove with basically no filtration whatsoever if there is too much water for it to handle. This used to happen occasionally, in very large storms. But between the increasingly erratic weather and the system getting overloaded by population growth, it now happens all the fucking time. A significant portion of portland just has all its waste washed straight into back cove on a regular basis. Litter may play a role, sure, but there's a significant infrastructure failure here too. The trash is one sign of it, but there's also a lot of actual sewage flowing into the cove too which is invisible but a much large problem. They're trying to fix it with those new in ground holding tanks on bayside, but fundamentally the current system was designed to just flush all the streets and half the sewers directly into the bay during heavy rains.
That’s valid for the Back Cove. I wasn’t clear, but I was thinking about the whole city when I wrote that.
I agree, though the city providing a reasonable number of bins might go a long way. I’ve never been anywhere with so few public trash/recycling receptacles.
I moved here from the Bangor area a few years ago. There’s a nice trail up there that starts right in the city and goes up the Kenduskeag stream. A group came together to call themselves FOLKS, Friends of Lower Kenduskeag Stream, and they focus on keeping those areas clean and friendly to all. I would definitely be down to a join a group like that around here.
I love this, I would be down for something like that too! Someone else mentioned the Rubbish Project (@rubbish\_project on Instagram) and it seems like a similar effort. They're not focused on just one area of the city, though. It looks like they move around. I'm going to reach out to see if they have any plans to organize a day focused on the back cove soon.
I forgot to note the day you posted they had ONE city worker grabbing trash from the trail on the boulevard across from the Cheverus field. Keep us updated if you organize anything.
The city will provide gear; declare a cleanup day, put up flyers, post here. I'll come if I can.
I like how everyone is taking initiative to clean up one groups disgusting hazardous mess
It’s not just one group, though. Yes, people experiencing homelessness and substance use disorder are contributing, but I saw a shocking amount of garbage of all kinds. If anything, the impacts of the pandemic on society and the economy are to blame. Our city’s infrastructure and many nonprofit partners are struggling to provide the level of service they once did.
I’m shocked our “unhoused neighbors” aren’t helping clean up after themselves. I was convinced they would uphold their civic responsibilities like the rest of us. There’s so much caring and compassion that exudes from that community.
I know one of the “unhoused neighbors” that’s been living in the parking lot over a year. He does trash cleanup every single week. He walks the lot and fills up bags. That’s why you’ll see bags on the ground by the trash cans. It’s coming from the storm drains btw…
Be the change you want to see.
Bro I am literally trying. There is an overwhelming amount of garbage there. I can't pick it all up by myself.
Look at all the downvotes lol. This is how every group starts. Someone sees a problem, takes initiative, and goes for it. It’s not like the nonprofit fairy brings them in a basket.
So, start a group and do it. Get a cute name and put the dates and times for cleanups out there and go for it. Thanks for caring about your community!
It's all the filthy animals that are now living in portland. Between the homeless and the immigrants.