Our U.S. Border with Mexico, and our National Forests and Wildlife reserves are rapidly
becoming the worlds largest waste dump.  Our Environmental protectors are becoming
garbage men and the U.S. Government can't control the situation threatening our
Nation's endangered species.

It is estimated (S. Arizona End of Year Report) that each immigrant discards at least
eight pounds of trash on his/her journey through southern Arizona.  Based upon this
figure, 1.24 million pounds (620 tons) of trash were left on Federal or Tribal lands in
southern Arizona by those arrested in 2004.  This figure does not take into account the
tens of thousands (most likely more) of migrants who were not arrested nor the millions
who entered in the previous six years adding to this accumulation.

These tons of trash include such things as clothing, personal items, bags, plastic
containers, diapers, human waste and the likes.  This trash impacts wildlife, vegetation
and water quality in uplands, washes and along rivers and streams.  This trash also
detracts from scenic qualities and is fully capable of effecting human and animal health
due to the spread of bacteria and disease.

This trash as well can and has been ingested by wildlife and livestock causing illness
and even death.

Human waste is also in high concentration in heavily used undocumented alien pick up
points, in and adjacent to washes, rivers, streams and other heavily traveled routes.  
This also impacts wildlife, vegetation and water quality in the uplands, washes and
along rivers and streams.  Human waste is a serious health threat to ALL people.

Affects on Nature
  • Plastics:  Plastics affect wildlife in a number of negative ways. Some animals
    mistake plastic for food and eat it.  Plastic bags, once ingested, can not be
    digested or passed by animals so it stays in their gut.  Plastic in animals guts
    prevents food digestion which leads to slow and painful deaths.  Once the animal
    dies and decays after eating plastics, the plastic is then freed back up into the
    environment for scavengers to ingest, and thus restarting the cycle again.

         Plastic does not even need be digested to cause issues with animals. Plastic
         6-pack rings can become traps for animals who get their heads, legs, neck or
         body parts trapped inside the rings and are unable to free themselves, often
         causing death by infection or suffication.
          
          Even if not digested. Plastic on average takes a hundred years to break down
          and then they release poisons and toxins back into water sources and soil.

          In addition to the harm they do to animals, plastics also are a total barrier keeping
          weeds from growing as well as anything else above and below it .  Air and water
          are unable to move down, healthy bacteria and earthworms are unable to move
          under the barrier or across them.  Thus all causing destruction to healthy soil.

  • Empty Bottles : Small mammals, rodents, amphibians and reptiles all can be
    killed by empty bottles. In their attempt to get to any water or substance left inside
    they become trapped inside the bottle unable to get out and die from heat
    exhaustion, dehydration or starvation.  In a glass bottle they can be baked alive if
    left in sun.

  • Human Waste: Human waste refers to byproducts of digestion, such as feces
    and urine. Human waste can be a serious health hazard, as it is a good vector for
    both viral and bacterial diseases.  Scientists have linked human sewage to
    several serious diseases.             

           
     
The Largest Landfill!
BAG LADIES (and men)
Cleaning up the environment
isn't optional!
We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children
-Native American Proverb
Types of Trash

Abandoned Vehicles
Bicycles
Soiled baby diapers
Empty food containers
Water bottles
Clothes
Human Waste
Personal items
Backpacks
Burlap bags
Plastics for shelter
Plaster water containers
Trampled vegetation
Human Waste Diseases

Amebic Dystentery
Ascariasis
Balantinium Coli
Cholera
Crytosporiosis
Cyclosporiasis
Dysentery
E-Coli
Entamoeba Histolytica
Gastroenterities
Giardia lamblia
Hepatitis
Hookworm
Pinworm
Plasmodium sp
Polio
Salmonella
Schistosomiasis
Shigellosis
Tapeworm
Trachoma
Trypanosoma Brucei
Whipworm
Counter