Dear Editor,
I read the article in the Great Bend Tribune: “Costly cleanup: Illegal dumping makes county look bad, costs taxpayer money” (March 16 issue). The article noted the sad (and widespread) illegal dumping of trash, tires, discarded furniture and even deer and pheasant carcasses all over Barton County. It was also noted that the “NO TRASH DUMPING” even with the $500 fine emblazoned on the sign did no good. Lawbreakers just ignored the signs and dumped more trash west of Hoisington, which added the burden to road crews as well as the tax money needed for such cleanup. In rural areas, especially in the dead of night, scofflaws can dump-and-go in a hurry. There is only so much manpower by the sheriff’s office and some areas may be secluded from the sight of landowners.
Nobody likes trash. Scattered trash is an added eyesore since it is seen over a wide territory. It can also be a mowing hazard for county crews.
Just a few days ago, while traveling to a little town of Goldonna, Louisiana, I saw a novel approach: Three large square metal dumpster boxes placed discretely along the shoulder of the rural roadway. Granted it is not the most ideal. However, I saw a man actually tossing his bag of trash into the box. Once inside, it sure looked a lot neater than a debris field.
I realize that professional trash haulers may balk. However, they are not getting the “business” anyway. This may be one way to remedy this problem or at least offset it. Monitored rural trash dumpsters may induce some people who are either too lazy or too poor to at least do a gesture which helps them and would save Barton County taxpayers a lot of money and time, and beautify the bulk of the county at the same time. It would certainly be easier to clean up a contained box that was already somewhat orderly and manageable.
Granted, not everybody would comply. But, at least near that village I saw, it was making a positive effect and being utilized.

James A. Marples
Esbon