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Disgusting trash dumped along Mt. Lemmon roads

Posted at 5:27 PM, Jan 04, 2016
and last updated 2016-01-05 09:06:01-05
MOUNT LEMMON, Ariz. (KGUN9-TV) - Disgusting garbage is being dumped along the sides of Mt. Lemmon roads. The U.S. Forest Service says more people are visiting Mt. Lemmon to ski and sled than ever before, but they're also leaving more trash behind.
 
"People -- instead of finding a toilet or a bathroom use a towel -- and leave it on the roadside. Maybe they've had too much fun up here and gotten sick and leave that on the side of the road," said a resident of Mt. Lemmon.
 
Gross things a Mount Lemmon resident has seen during her strolls through Summerhaven.
 
More trash can be found at Bear Wallow at Mile Post 22. And though the sign clearly reads -- Please do not litter -- Broken sleds pepper the pristine landscape.
 
Frustrated long-time resident Karen Shunk turned to social media to voice her outrage, describing more filthy trash left behind like dirty diapers.
 
Some residents are calling for a huge public outcry.
 
The U.S. Forest Service maintains the land. Volunteers and staff haul truck loads of trash down the mountain and it's getting hard to keep up.Residents help, but since they have no trash service, they too have to haul the garbage to city dumps. Those residents pay the fees out their own pockets and they say they are fed up.
 

"Just be respectful of this mountain or wherever you are in any state -- anywhere in the country and world. If there's garbage -- take it back with you," said one resident.

Residents have asked about putting more trash containers out, but I'm told the garbage could attract more wildlife -- even dangerous ones -- to the areas. U.S. Forest Service employees post no  littering signs, but they're later ripped down.