By Shannon Lukens,
Do you see it? There is a mattress in there, under the snow.
Steamboat Springs residents leave a lot of items along city streets in neighborhoods, hoping they’ll get picked up and newly loved in a new home. But is it legal?
Steamboat Radio News has received requests from listeners to find out. “Does anyone know if there’s an ordinance against leaving junk on the side of the road? I’m so tired of seeing mattresses and junk leaning against the stop sign on Tamarack and Fish Creek Falls Road.”
We asked and there is a code pertaining to trash. “No person shall deposit, leave, dump or cause to be deposited, left or dumped any trash, refuse, garbage or rubble on any public or private property other than within those containers specifically designated for the deposit of such materials.”
Steamboat Springs Police Commander Rich Brown and Community Service Supervisor Krista Amatuzio said the dumping would need to be witnessed and called into dispatch at 970-879-1144. They added in an email, “Photographs and/or videos of the incident and license plate is helpful. These tend to be tough to prosecute.”
Steamboat Springs City Manager Gary Suiter said, “It is a strange tradition we have here in the ‘Boat. It seems to happen in every neighborhood, even the nice expensive homes. I have seen sofas and wood furniture sit through rain and snowstorms only to be destroyed and left for junk. I never see the persons leaving their stuff, only persons going through it or loading it up. I often wonder who picks up the trash.”
Finally, it was recommended by the city to consider donating usable items to a local non-profit like LiftUp of Routt County, hold a garage sale, or post the item in an online forum on social media. “If it’s trash, then it should be disposed of properly and not left on roadside.”
This couch without cushions was on Fish Creek Falls in July of 2021.
Here is the specific ordinance from the City of Steamboat Springs.
“Public or private property” as used in this section includes, but is not limited to, the right-of-way of any road or highway, any sidewalk, alley or public passageway, a body of water or watercourse, any park, playground, recreation area, building, parcel of property (publicly or privately owned) or refuse container or receptacle provided for private use.
(a) No person shall deposit, leave, dump or cause to be deposited, left or dumped any trash, refuse, garbage or rubble on any public or private property other than within those containers specifically designated for the deposit of such materials.
(b) No driver of any vehicle, other than a vehicle carrying passengers for hire, shall fail to prevent any passenger in the driver’s vehicle from violating subsection (a) of this section.
(c) No person shall deposit, leave, dump or cause to be deposited, left or dumped any trash, refuse, garbage or rubble in any designated container in any city park, recreation area, or open space unless such material originated from lawful activity in such area