November 14, 2014

2014 Trash Tally!

"I bet you find the craziest stuff in that river..."  

 

Yes we do.  If I had to pull out the 10 strangest things we pulled out of the river this year, they would be:

1.  A "Chicken Dance" Elmo Doll
2.  A plastic pair of Angel Wings
3.  A full sized Keg of Beer floating down the river (only the top 1/4 of it was above the water)
4.  1 full jug of Atrazine
5.  A Message in a Bottle from 1964, thrown in at "Jesse James Hideaway Cave"
6.  2 Cobbler's Shoes (found separately)
7.  A metal flower that had been welded together
8.  A giant Candle shaped & painted like a strawberry
9.  The body of an Electric Guitar
10.  1 plush "Newborn Chimp" covered in stick-tites

Gee, that was kind of hard to narrow down, between all of the other messages in bottles, decrepit baby doll parts and strange things we've found like a fiberglass boat from 1957.  I'll let you browse through the full trash tally below.  Enjoy!

Here's a sample of what volunteers hauled out of the Missouri River in 2014.  Special thanks to our trash archivist, aka Tally-Ho, Ruthie Moccia for diligently recording these lists.  Also, check out our 2014 "Trash Treasures" photo album!


1,309 bags of trash
128 bags of recylcables
564 tires
7 tons of scrap metal
12 refrigerators
3 chest freezers
111 chunks o’ Styrofoam
22 coolers
21 chairs
38 - 55-gal. plastic barrels
48 - 5-gal. plastic buckets
21 - 55 gal. metal drums (one with unknown chemical)
1 - 55 gal. barrel full of camping equipment
11 - 5-gal. metal buckets
23 plastic tubs
16 propane & freon tanks
4 water heaters
200 aerosol cans
21 TVs (does this include ramp cleanup?  Go back & check)
12 car headlights
1 microwave
53 light bulbs
1 florescent tube
7 duck decoys
1 goose decoy
2 mattresses
5 box springs
1 – 1000 gal. farm spray tank
5 messages in a bottle (one from 1964)
1 message on a ping pong ball
19mm handgun
1 Smoke Grenade Canister
1 1982 World's Fair plastic cup
1 stainless steel vegetable steamer
several railroad ceramic insulators
The bow of a canoe with the name painted “BLU BY U”
3 foot piece of plastic culvert
4 plastic milk crates
1 extenstion cord
1 vinyl record
2 cassette tapes
1 vhs tape - Professional Gun
1 ceramic heart that says "Connceted by Love, Guided by Faith"
2 watches
1 football helmet
1 dirty diaper
1  metal frame for stairway
1 air compressor
1 rubber canteen
1 softball owned by Gary Babetz
1 wooden table top
2 brass piano parts
1 coconut
1 water ski
1 tiny painting
1 ammo case from KC Waters.org
1 styrofoam strawberry
1 serrated knife
1 Printer with Ink Cartridges strewn about
1 seed spreader
1 piece of a culvert
1 blue six sided die
2 railroad spikes
1 piece of an alien airship
1 old fm receiver
1 couch
2 couch frames
3 barge lines
1 fire extinquisher
1 top of a safe
1 - 1957 fiberglass Saber boat
1 buoy
1 metal trash can
1 pulley
1 chicken wire
1 tiny saw blade
1 lateral drain tile
1 wall to a Porta-Potti
2 PVC pipes
1 white picket fence
1 bookshelf
1 Iron Fence Pole
1 Molded Child’s Headboard (faux oak)
1 Plastic Horseshoe (red, life size)
1 dog kennel top
1 big plastic bowl for Clifford
1 men’s cologne box
1 newspaper mailbox
1 plastic shovel
1 swim pad
1 Serrated Hand Saw Blade
1 Wooden Cross with Memorial Nameplate (James Wynn, 10-16-49 to 6-8-97)
1 Metal Camping Dish with Cover
1 Air Horn Can (corroded)
1 Reflector
1 Decorator Icing Kit
1 Reflective KU Business Cup
1 Love Cologne Mist
1 Window with Metal Grate
2 tents
1 tent pole
2 Plastic Culvert Pipes (12-feet long 3-feet diameter)
1 Red Nun Buoy tied up at the USCG storage facility
1 Metal Sculpted Flower
1 Marble Cheese Plate
1 Giant Candle Shaped & Painted like a Strawberry
1 full can of Hairspray (volumizing)
1 French Press
1 Coffee Maker (20 cup)
1 Coffee Cup
1 3 Drawer Filing Cabinet
1 25 lb Barbell Weight
1 laptop case
1 Ear Plugs on a Rope
1 double sheet set
1 laughing gas mask
1 ice scraper
1 shopping cart
1 stainless steel kitche trash can
1 16” Ice Skate
2 Cobbler’s Shoes
3 plastic hair combs
2 hats
1 ruler from Sutherland Lumber Company of St. Joseph
1 wooden spool
1 decorative popcorn tin filled with trash
1 Swiss army knife
1 electric guitar
1 Crockpot Innards
1 Dish Drainer
1 Fork (stainless steel)
1 Dice
1 Metal  Loveseat (very nice)
1 Toothbrush (orange)
1 Army Canteen (dirty green)
1 Playing Card (2 of spades)
1 Moss Covered Tennis Shoe (Winner-Most Fashionable Trash)
1 Padded Bra (pink)
1 Nike Head Band
3 drink thermos'
1 Garden Watering Wand
3 Gardening Tools
1 Cat Carrier
1 Flood Light
1 Swiffer Mop handle
3 Feed Buckets
1 Washer Spin Drum
1 Compressor
1 Burner
2 Radio Vacuum Tubes
1 Toilet Float
1 Country Mailbox on Post
1 Wench Ratchet Strap
6 Curtain Rods
1 piece of a balloon from “Nebraska Environmental Association”
1 bottle of Aspirin
1 American Flag (on wooden pole)
1 Glow Stick (yellow)
4 refrigerator drawers
3 fridge doors
1 refrigerator defroster
2 cooler lids
1 Plastic Lawn Chair Seat
1 water jug
1 smashed up buoy
1 Metal Drum Lid (rusted)
1 55-Gallon Plastic Barrel Lid
1 Ring Clamp for 55-Gallon Metal Barrel
1 pair of safety glasses
1/2 of a chainsaw case
1 set of wheels to a stroller
1 giant tarp
1 Full Can of Beer (unopened, unreported brand)
1 full Pabst Blue Ribbon pull tab
1 large Beer Keg
1 box of wine, 8 oz, chardonnay (unopened new package)
1 upholstered chair cushion
1 kneeling pad
1 Back Rest Cushion (with arms)
4 orange floating booms
5 drain tile pieces
40 ft. of hose


Too Many to Count:
"single-use" plastic bottles, styrofoam cups & clamshells
misc. shoes & flip flops
1 swirling gyre full of stryofoam & plastic - now known as the kasnsas city "Trash Trap"
a million single-use plastic bottles
a gazillion balls to include 1 gold bowling ball
a ton of 6 pack rings, plastic wrappers, plastic eating utensils, plastic straws, 5-hour energy drink bottles, disposable lighters and chewing tobacco cans.
dozens of antique glass bottles


Marine Rubbish
2 fishing lures
4 fishing poles
2 wads o fishing line
8 bobbers
1 electric bilge pump
1 motor mount bracket
1 Boat Bumper
1 wire fish catch box
1 boat dock with 4 barrels
1 boat bow
1 minnow trap
1 Leinenkugel's beer bobber
Chemicals
1 jug of hydraulic oil
1 full Jug of Atrazine
1 5-gal. can with flammable liquid
abondoned ammonia tank (part of meth lab)
3 chemical jugs


Signs
1 Big Muddy Refuge Sign
2 Conservation Signs
1 directional road sign on post


Automobile Parts
2 Strips Car Trim
1 Velour Car Seat
1 Truck Windshield Wiper Base
1 Missouri License Plate (2010, ME VERA)
1 Car Bumper
1 Miniature Mack Truck Cab (metal, pink and blue)
1 plastic car part
1 Car Hood (midsize compact)
1 Exhaust Pipe
1 Truck Seat
1 600 lb Automotive Transformer
1 Car Jack
1 car door
1 oil pan
5 gas tanks
1 gas can
1 gas funnel


Construction Dumping
300 lbs Wet Ceiling Tile
15’ PVC Pipe
5 pieces of soggy carpet
1 Ceiling Fan Blade
1 large section of mobile home wall
5 corrugated tin strips
1 - 18’ culvert pipe
10 - 3’ pieces asbestos pipe
Nuts and Bolts (too numerous to count)
1 construction helmet
1 Metal Tub
1 Screen Door
2 Wooden Beams (bolted together)
1 window squeegee
1 large nail
1 4x4 Wooden Post
1 iron pipe rebar
1 trailer load of vinyl siding
2 broom handles
2 orange cones
15’ PVC Pipe
6 roof shingles
5 plank boards
1 pipe insulation cover
3 fence posts
1 12 ft. pipe
1 strip of culvert pipe
20' of barbed wire
14' of plastic covered cable wire
4 Sheets Plywood
5 Wooden 2’ x 4’s
4 Wooden 4’ x 6’s
1 Wooden Palette
2 Iron T Poles
23 Pieces Scrap Metal
110’ Steel Reinforced Conduit
12’ Steel Cable
15’ Farm Fence Wire (rusted)
14’ Steel Pipe
20’ PVC Pipe
20’ Iron Gas Pipe
61’  Plastic Pipe
2’ Ceramic Pipe
150 lbs Coated Copper Cable Wire
1 double kitchen sink still attached to the counter
1 Furnace Blower Pipe


Child's Toys
4 baby dolls (one headless, 2 armless)
4 baby doll heads
1 “Hello Kitty” Love Seat
2 plastic toy dogs
2 Rubber Duckies
1 plastic whale
1 Pair Angel Wings
2 baby rattles
1 Crocheted Baby Doll Dress
1 “Chicken Dance” Elmo Doll
1 Marshmallow Head
1 Child’s Snow Sled
1 Plastic Container “Fun Dough”
1 Miniature Plastic Hay Bale
1 Child’s Tractor (perfect condition)
1 Child’s Jeep (axle and wheels only)
1 Child’s 4-Wheeler
1/2 of a Skate Board
1 Plastic Zebra
1 Teddy Bear (dressed for town)
1 Plastic Water Gun
1 Nerf Dart
1 plastic apple
1 Baby Pacifier (shades of pink)
1 Child’s Slide
1 container of bubbles
1 Bubble Wand
1 plastic toy camera
1 foam letter "p or d"
1 torpedo (plastic)
2 green army guys
1 plush "newborn chimp"
1 Plastic Mustache (glow-in-the-dark)
1 Plastic Knife (looks real)
5 Markers
1 Plastic Mustache (glow-in-the-dark)
1 red Air Hockey piece
1 purple McDonald’s Toy
1 plastic Fire Extinguisher Toy
1 green plastic Sand Box Turtle Lid
1 plush "newborn chimp"
1 kids scooter
1 plastic apple
1 toy fire truck
1 plastic checker
1 plastic rabbit
1 plastic duck on wheels
1 easter egg
1 plastic penquin
1 wooden flower & bird
1 pink panther print on foam
1 kiddie push cart
1 kids plastic table
1 leather baby sandal
1 alphabet block (yellow)
1 studded football massage ball
1 pair of purple vampire teeth
1 yellow piggy bank
1 Plastic Happy Face Animal
1 plastic sand castle mold
1 baby bear rattle - 1984 Mattel Inc.
1 Plastic Dragonfly
1 toddlers toy car you ride on
1 sit & spin
1 railroad track section

Natural but noted:
1 Gar Skeleton
6 small animal skulls
1 gourd
1 hemp plant
1 terrarium in a glass bottle
1 shelf fungus
1 fishhead
2  Weird Bones
5 whole pumpkins (ready to carve)
1 Snapping Turtle Shell
1 Small Jaw Bone (species unknown)
1 dead american coot (headless)
1 hawk skeleton
1 turkey feather
several turtle shells

1 dead snake with plastic netting wrapped around it

photo by Brian Waldrop