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Increased trash from Boise River floaters raises concerns

Boise Parks and Recreation Doug Holloway said people are leaving behind their trash, which is overflowing in bins.

BOISE, Idaho — Triple-digit temperatures usually translate into double the number of people floating in the Boise River.

Fourth of July weekend was busy, and the number of people floating was either at or near the highest it's been, Doug Holloway, Director of Parks and Recreation, told KTVB on Tuesday. 

He said that a busier river usually leads to an overflow of trash at the Ann Morrison Park takeout, where floaters exit the river. 

"All of them converge to one location, and that's this takeout we have here at Ann Morrison Park," Holloway said.

There are four trash bins right up from the takeout and a trailer for any popped inner tubes and rafts that get popped along the way. 

"We do have a crew assigned to this location. Their job is to keep trash empty and keep trash cleaned up," Holloway said. 

But sometimes, the trash bins overflow after a long day of floating, or people put trash in the trailer. 

"Our experience has been, regardless the types of receptacles we have out here, the floaters put trash in any of the receptacles available," Holloway said. 

The occasional pizza box makes its way into the inner tube trailer, which is why the city has chosen to not have recycling bins out there. 

"We do ask people that if the bins here are full, to use one of the sacks that are available here," Holloway said. 

The city has looked into other solutions. 

"Unfortunately, there's no easy path to get a dumpster in here and then have our recycling or our garbage team come in and remove the dumpster and dump it," Holloway said. 

The best solution is to pack out what you brought to the river. 

"The whole key is that we want, river etiquette, is having common courtesy when you're on the river with other floaters but it's also taking care of the river and taking care of the takeout area here at Ann Morrison Park," Holloway said.

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