A few years back- some of our Washington State Parks removed the trash cans that were traditional at the parks.
Mystery Bay is one such location.
Mystery Bay is not a remote location where the policy applies to hiking trails or primitive campsites. Mystery Bay is just down the road from a full service state park- Fort Flagler.
Mystery Bay has a picnic shelter which is fully accessible by car. Boats pay to stay overnight.
Mystery Bay charges $10 per day, per car to access the park:
“The Discover Pass – your ticket to Washington’s great outdoors”
I do not object in any way to pack it out policies for remote locations, islands, hiking trails, primitive campsites, etc.
My feeling is that state parks that are accessible by car, have picnic shelters and charge for day use should provide trash service.
Cat box theory- make it easy for people to do the right thing and most people will.
People are supposed to clean up after their dogs. If they stay for 3 nights on their boat- are they supposed to tow a refrigerated dog crap container to pack it out? Pack it out to where?
If a person rents a car and travels the US for a couple weeks- where are they supposed to pack it out to?
Our local county parks do not charge a day fee and are having trouble staying on top of trash which exceeds the capacity of their trash cans. Are people avoiding the state day use fee or no trash policy by leaving trash at a county park?
I traveled to Potlatch State Park a couple summers ago. The traditional trash cans had been replaced with a pack it out policy. A trip to the restroom revealed 2 trash cans worth of trash stacked around the trash can in the restroom.
Additional state parks rants:
No soap in restrooms. People live in parks for days at a time- preparing food, hosting family reunions, etc. Soap in the restrooms is the way to go.
Discover Pass costs $5.00 extra when purchased online?
How does this $5.00 fee make any sense?
10 day temporary Discover Pass (provided as a receipt for online purchase) displays all drivers license info- to be seen by the general public when placed on your dash?
Why must this personal info be displayed on a temporary parking pass?
makes sense to me. thanks for sharing.
I don’t know you personally as we’ve never met. As far as I know. Don’t take this wrong. I’m not hinting around or the like. But it sure would be nice to meet a guy like you. I dont have money but for a small fixed income and I have to count pennies. I’m lucky if I can get something for my self at Goodwill. My truck needs someone who can figure out the things wrong and fix them. Not too dependable right now. I would love to go do clean ups like this. Especially with a friend or partner.
I didn’t know this about the garbage cans.I’m going to put a shovel and a rake in my truck along with some trash bags and gloves. While doing local errands I can stop at some of these spots and see if there’s trash needing to be cleaned up..
A lot of what the gov. does makes no sense. And try to get a real person on the phone. I haven’t learned about the Discover Pass because I really can’t afford it. I can still visit my county parks. For now.
You’re a good person. Helping our beautiful home. Planet earth. Every ONE makes a difference. Thank you.
laswan57,
Thanks for your kind words.
I went back and updated broken links on this page which was originally posted back in the summer of 2012.
Over the years- I have noticed improvements Re: soap in State Parks restrooms.
Soap is good!