Meyers business helps remove snow play trash; Clean Tahoe can direct others to litter hot spots

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - We've seen the stories and photos of trash left behind by the large number of people spending time in the snow from Truckee to South Lake Tahoe. A growing problem is the people finding whatever patch of snow is available, normally in areas not previously used for snow play.

Controlling the trash has become an issue. Clean Tahoe, the South Lake Tahoe program tasked with keeping the community litter and trash free, hits whatever areas their staff can, but this means one person tackling the problem. The League to Save Lake Tahoe has its Blue Crew volunteer teams being training currently to get out to these winter hot spots, and other groups are out trying to remove what people should have taken with them when heading home.

Meyers business owner Kenny Curtzwiler was concerned about what he saw so he took out a couple of his employees this week and hit local hot spots to pick trash. Curtzwiler had contacted Clean Tahoe, the South Lake Tahoe program tasked with keeping the area litter free, to see where help was needed.

Curtzwiler and his K & K Services team went to Fallen Leaf Lake Road, Sawmill Pond, the hill across the highway fro the airport, Elks Club parking area, both sides of US50 from Freel Perk Coffee shop to the entrance of Sierra At Tahoe.

Most of the trash collected were sleds from the "corral" at Fallen Leaf Lake Road, placed there to urge people to at least dump their plastic sleds into the bin instead of leaving on the ground.

Curtzwiler said they were actually surprised at what they didn't find...lots of trash. Besides about six empty cans of beer and one old diaper, the trash found on the snow and dirt wasn't as much as expected. He did find "thousands" of pieces of large paper confetti from something like a piñata at the top of Echo Summit, but most were frozen into the snow and couldn't be retrieved at this time.

Clean Tahoe is able to provide anyone with a list of trash hot spots should they want to get out and clean up. Jeff Pollitt, their lone outside staff member during the winter, has been working hard to remove all trash left exposed with the recent snow melt.

Some of those hot spots for trash are Fallen Leaf Lake Road, the top of Keller Drive, Bellamy Court, Ski Run Blvd.

Clean Tahoe's Executive Director Kathleen Sheehan said this year they are seeing people pulling over on the road to get to the snow, much more than in the past, and not utilizing normal sledding and play areas. This presents a larger trash problem because it is unknown where they end up and spreads out the garbage areas.

The nonprofit can use help if any person, or group of people would like to tackle an area like Curtzwiler did. They are open Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., though Sheehan can normally be found there after hours. Call them at 530.
appreciate help, call (530) 544-4210, find them on Facebook or find information on their website, https://www.clean-tahoe.org/.