East Van Garbage Watch: Ross Park stinks

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      East Vancouver smells like shit.

      Between West Coast Reduction's rendering plant on North Commercial, the vomit and urine streaking the sidewalks and alleyways after special events, and the epic piles of garbage, it's hard to argue that the east side of town smells like anything other than rancid death.

      To wit, I present the lastest installment of East Van Garbage Watch (patent pending): a semi-regular series of photos of disgustingness.

      Today's offender: Ross Park and the mystery of the overflowing garbage can.

      Garbage, garbage everywhere.
      Miranda Nelson

      Last weekend, I moved away from Commercial Drive and into South Vancouver, which means I have all sorts of new streets, alleys, and parks to roam through—and, unsurprisingly, a plethora of new-to-me places to find trash.

      For those of you not in the know, Ross Park is a charming 1.51-hectare park in Vancouver's Sunset neighbourhood, complete with a playground for kids, a little field house, plenty of space for sports, and a seriously disgusting garbage problem.

      There is so much trash hanging out in the park that another bucket was enlisted to help, but to little avail.
      Miranda Nelson

      Recent festivities in Downtown Vancouver—included the well-attended Celebration of Light and the Vancouver Pride Parade—have shown that the city knows how to clean up after big events. However, the outskirts often get overlooked.

      And in case you haven't been in the area lately, there is garbage all over the sidewalks in South Vancouver. Dumpsters are overflowing. There is abandoned furniture everywhere.

      I suppose the big surprise is that this garbage can isn't surrounded by even more refuse than it is.

      Dirty diapers smell fantastic after a few hours cooking in the sunshine.
      Miranda Nelson

      I know that a lot of people are moving right now, but there's no reason to leave garbage everywhere. The South Vancouver Transfer Station is located at 377 West Kent Avenue North, a mere two blocks south of Marine Drive. And while you're in the neighbourhood, you can return empty bottles and recycle defunct electronics at the nearby South Van Bottle Depot; it's at 34 East 69th Avenue and open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day of the week.

      Previously on East Van Garbage Watch: What's with all the fucking toilets?

      Have an East Van garbage photo you want to share? Tweet it to me at @charenton_ with the photo's location, date it was taken, and any other observations you may have.

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