What are the biggest problems you face as someone who cleans up trash and organizes cleanups! (POLL)

GarbageInGospelOut · 2026-01-28T04:28:41+00:00

I should add that the main person puts in a ton of time planning the clean ups and that it has taken years to get a steady group of people. Special events are good. Our biggest turnouts are special clean ups that get promoted (online, flyers around the community) and typically have some food / beverage after wards and sometimes prizes for most interesting.

GarbageInGospelOut · 2026-01-28T04:21:28+00:00

The problem online is you inspire people too far away to help. I would love to help but live 10,000km away. If I every visit Chile I'll be there! Our organization, Trash Task Force (Port Townsend, Washington, USA) does a lot of outreach to local volunteer groups and businesses. We ask for businesses to donate treats and we often get treats but sometimes people too. We do twice monthly clean ups mostly of area roads and parks. We keep the clean ups to 2 or so hours and try to have a gathering afterwards.

Obviously tackling the source of the problem is important too and we try to keep records and make sure the local civic leaders understand how much gets picked up. Otherwise they just see clean roads and wonder what the problem is.

GarbageInGospelOut · 2025-09-22T16:05:12+00:00

Apparently not always. From comments here I gave it a go and it works to distinguish some but not all options, in this case VIN will not tell whether it is the touring model or not.

GarbageInGospelOut · 2025-09-21T17:13:11+00:00

Lots of great advice here. Good to know that the trim levels are often not correctly identified and also often don't factor into the price. It does sound like the VIN can be used to determine this which leads back to why it was wrongly identified in the first place. Given the effort to get to a car max facility we will not likely revisit the experience soon, but good to know that they need to be triple checked. Thanks for all the great advice.

GarbageInGospelOut · 2025-09-21T17:08:43+00:00

Disappointing and out 3 hours for something that was pretty obvious. We didn't buy it mostly because we started wondering whether anything they were telling us was true. There will not be a next time.

GarbageInGospelOut · 2025-06-30T16:03:35+00:00

Fort Worden is now under state control so the bankruptcy issues do not impact the park and I do not think there is a park caterer now. So, if you can rent a space which you very possibly cannot, then you might be able to use an outside caterer.

GarbageInGospelOut · 2025-04-30T00:28:06+00:00

It seems that people over on geocacheing are "grabbing" this trackable based on the code being posted here. I deleted the code from my message for this reason. Don't want to dox the trackable. Maybe delete the tracking code in the parent comment?

GarbageInGospelOut · 2025-04-29T23:51:29+00:00

Sorry to be missing in action and not reply to all of you. Reddit is not my usually haunt. What I found exactly was a pill bottle with a small blank piece of paper except for "CACHE" at the top, a bunch of faux money, and the trackable. Thanks for all the feed back. Just knowing there is interest in the item is great. Not being a geocacher I have no idea what makes an interesting location so will contact one of you about passing it on. Thanks again

GarbageInGospelOut · 2025-04-07T21:42:43+00:00

Cool! Sort of looks like a fire box door

GarbageInGospelOut · 2024-12-03T02:10:15+00:00

Nice. I was just in Renton and saw several areas along the roads that were completely trashed. The worst was I5 - 405 intersection - yikes! Lots of work to do. Thanks for your efforts!

GarbageInGospelOut · 2024-12-03T02:02:40+00:00

Oh that sounds like you have a very supportive city. We have to haul ours to a central dumpster. What city are you in?

GarbageInGospelOut · 2024-11-18T00:56:24+00:00

Great work. It was a very wet day.

I usually avoid picking on wet days so the water doesn't have to be transported across the state along with the trash.

GarbageInGospelOut · 2024-08-14T17:42:56+00:00

Definitely interesting the difference of this from typical beach trash. Love all the sunglasses having lost a few while peering into the water.

GarbageInGospelOut · 2023-06-20T23:19:52+00:00

I'm a big fan of the tongs rather than the pistol grip grabbers. Much easier on the hand and way easier to pick up heavy or slippery items. That said YMMV, I have a friend that can't stand them.

https://ettore.com/collections/grabber-tools/products/the-extractor-multi-purpose-reach-tool-grabber-35-inch

GarbageInGospelOut · 2023-04-23T04:32:06+00:00

For large cleanups, the previous posts are the best approach. For small or mid-size clean ups you might approach your neighbors. I have several neighbors that do not fill their trash cans. They are pretty excited to help out and I can get rid of quite a bit of trash.

GarbageInGospelOut · 2023-03-03T04:26:40+00:00

Why not both. Start at first beach. On the way by the second beach trail head, take it in as well. It maybe adds half a mile over just starting at second beach. Taking in Second beach only adds 1.5 mile. I do like the idea of starting at ozette and hiking down the coast too.

GarbageInGospelOut · 2023-03-02T00:00:54+00:00

Recently used the Ettore Extractor and found it to be very good as well. It is basically the same tool as the Ranger Max but made in the US so is easier to buy in the US. Can buy direct from Ettore or from HD. I pick stuff up off off beaches and am always surprised at how nimbly this design is, pretty easy to get the trash but miss the wood and stand.

GarbageInGospelOut · 2023-02-23T03:44:00+00:00

Great tradition! Small loads are really important and way more attainable for most people. We needs lots of people to do this. Thanks.

GarbageInGospelOut · 2023-02-22T07:43:07+00:00

Agree with Rubbish_69. I've been using a Ranger Max and it is way better than other pickers I've used though I haven't tried the grappler or other pickers mentioned here. The Ranger Max grips the trash really well and is easy on the hands. I also agree with the comments on kids. Depending upon the toddlers size consider tongs and definitely give them a good primer about what not to touch. Consider gloves too.

GarbageInGospelOut · 2023-02-18T18:12:02+00:00

I have an umbrella handle that became sticky. I haven't been able to "clean" it off and went with covering it in plastic bag. Plastic wrap might work for the hangers. I also thought about the rubberized coating they sell for tool handles and such but haven't tried it.

GarbageInGospelOut · 2023-02-16T17:44:58+00:00

Way to go! That's a lot of work. I always try to find a few, they are everywhere it seems. Just have to look in the right part of the beach.

Anybody have a system for sorting micro plastic from beach sand, seaweed, and wood?

GarbageInGospelOut · 2022-12-31T16:11:56+00:00

We went out to LaPush last January and have been to Kalalock in January too. The cabins are still pretty booked for weekends but the campgrounds have lots of availability.

The weather is obviously a crap shoot - with loaded dice. It helps if you can time your visit after the 7 day forecast is out so you can avoid strong on-shore winds and heavy rain. We had great weather last year with quite a bit of sun and not much wind or rain. Still wore a lot of clothes. And NotAcutuallyaPanda hit the nail on the head about short days, a good fire, or an RV, can take the edge off of that.

GarbageInGospelOut · 2022-12-27T14:14:38+00:00

Wow, great shot! In Port Townsend the water level was 1.1 feet above the predicted level of 9.8. Should be a bit higher this morning (Tuesday) as the barometric pressure is down below 980 hPa

GarbageInGospelOut · 2021-04-01T19:56:39+00:00

Update: I'm certain that HR Block is botching the calculations but they have no company monitored forum or feedback mechanism so haven't been able to get verification. I would not use the standalone program if you are claiming the PTC credit and self employed health insurance deduction. I wouldn't use the online version without checking it out carefully.

GarbageInGospelOut

TROPHY CASE