MTA blames litter problem on free press via AM New York
Monthly trash pickups have grown from 35 tons in 2004 to 50 tons last year. That extra rubbish may have contributed to a 40% spike in subway fires, officials said during an MTA New York City Transit committee meeting Monday.
Free newspapers are partly to blame, said Michael Lombardi, vice president of subways for New York City Transit.
“Between their aggressive handouts and sometimes the way they distribute them, it adds to an increase of the amount of newspapers and trash we pick up on a daily basis,” he said. “It is a combination of increased ridership, eating more on the trains and more newspapers being introduced into the transit system,” he said.
I don’t quite see how those things (increased ridership, more eating, and more newspapers) cause more fires. Is it just me or is the connection unclear?
Hey MTA: Maybe try picking up the trash once in a while! Also, how about enforcing rules against littering?
Also see what Bridge and Tunnel Club Blog has to say: And What’s More, They Start Track Fires
March 1, 2006 at 3:42 pm
Here’s my favorite MTA garbage photo:
http://flickr.com/photos/richmintz/69104009/
As I was taking this photo of a MOUND OF DISCARDED METROCARDS on, below, and around an MTA trash slot, next to a sign reading “please do not litter,” an MTA employee came running over to pick up the trash — but she only picked up the trash on top of the slot, leaving the much bigger mound on the floor!