whoa! you found the secret trash page!!!

i started picking up litter in my local community in 2023, after i graduated college and had a bunch of free time while i searched for my first post-degree job. as it turns out, you find a lot of weird shit if you're picking up trash! here's my place to document the most interesting finds and tell their stories.

p.s. YOU can pick up litter, too! it doesn't have to be a lot - try doing 5 pieces a day and you will see the difference around you :-)

on safety

while i have never had any adverse health effects from picking up trash, please use your best judgement if you decide to start cleaning up your local area! never touch items that could contain biohazard (needles, diapers, condoms, etc.) with your bare hands, and always be aware of your surroundings when picking things up. if you're uncomfortable handling a piece of trash, don't attempt to pick it up! you can always note the location and return later with different equipment (grabber, etc.) or inform your local litter organization of the location.

if you live in an area where needle use is common, your local harm reduction organization can supply you with the training and supplies needed to safely collect and dispose of used needles. please reach out to your local orgs if you notice this is an issue where you live! if you're uncomfortable with handling needles, you can always hand over the location info to someone who is trained for assistance in clean up. be cautious, not afraid!

compilations

junk journal

2/3/2025: DUDE, this one was so funny. i'm not a shoe guy, i think these are fake anyways, but i literally found them on the side of the road. unfortunately, they were not my size, so i decided to leave them for a next guy with size 12 feet...

1/17/2025: DIAMONDS!!!!!!!! i think this was a day where i picked up not one but two dirty diapers off the street (always double gloved + using my grabber for those) and this was a welcome treat after that.

1/6/2025: another one that leaves you wondering how it ended up on the street. i think this is the signature card from a children's entertainment company, but how did it get separated from its owner?

7/18/2024: not only was someone doing whippets in the back alley behind my house, but their source of choice was the MASTER CREAM CHARGER. sounds like a good night to me.....

2/25/2024: sometimes trash is interesting to me just because i have to wonder HOW things end up in the gutter like this. a 2000 x-men VHS tape box, missing the actual VHS? what possible story is there to this?

1/7/2024: peak environmental storytelling

8/19/2023: kratom is basically gas station opioids + stimulants in one product. its effects on the body are not well understood, but probably not good for you either way. straight to the bin!

8/19/2023 & 1/7/2024: um, so.... these were both found next to a middle school :(

7/8/2023: the CD was a metallica greatest hits album...someone had a great day planned

6/19/2023: ocassionally i like to do before/afters! here's one from a local park.

6/19/2023: look at him, he's such a cool guy

6/4/2023: i think i got cursed by picking this one up.

4/30/2023: one of my first interesting finds, i found this BMW key buried near the parking lot of my local park. no BMWs in sight, by the way.