Whatcom Falls Park is a wonderful staple of this community. However, the limited availability of trash cans is contributing to the trash problem. This is not only bad, but also poses a threat to the local wildlife and the environment. For example, garbage is getting in the fish hatchery. This is a signifigant problem because the fish are dying and need clean water to survive, this may lead to declining fish populations which would have an extreme impact on the ecosystem

Statistics reveal that proper waste management can significantly reduce litter. By increasing the number of trash cans in key locations throughout the park, visitors will be encouraged to properly dispose of their waste, reducing litter and promoting a cleaner, safer environment.

We'd also like to raise the minimum fine for littering from $125 to $150. More inquiry on this, we would Appreciate it if signs were posted to display said fines, this would encourage park-goers to throw garbage away instead of littering it

Preventative Measures: 90% of people believe litter is a problem, but only with the correct infrastructure can this be addressed, as a 2020 study highlights that improper disposal is often due to a lack of access to bins.

The price of trash cans can range from $500-1,500, although most are usually $1,000. If we were to add 5 more trash cans it would cost a total of $5,000.

We urge the City of Bellingham to take immediate action by implementing additional trash cans strategically placed in high-traffic areas of the park. This simple yet effective solution will help maintain the park’s natural beauty and encourage responsible waste disposal among park-goers.

I've gone 5  times in the past two years and there has been trash all over, in the water, on trails, and the surrounding area of the play structure. I also noticed that there were only 5 trashcans throughout the large area of park, this includes the surrounding trails. 

The way the city is currently handling this problem is in-effective for the scale of the issue. What they currently have been doing is saying "just pick it up." And moving on from there as if that is enough to fix the issue.