Park Officials Remove Trash Cans From Ocean Beach To Promote Cleaner Park

SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) -- Park Service officials are trying a counter-intuitive method to reduce trash along Ocean Beach, by removing most of the trash cans.

"It's counter-intuitive. We understand that," Adrienne Freeman of the GGNRA said.

The Park Service left some trash cans along Ocean Beach, but officials are hoping the move will get visitors to take responsibility for their trash.

"We are really hoping this encourages people to take personal responsibility, and pack their trash out," Freeman said.

By "pack their trash out," Freeman means taking it home to throw it away, but not everyone thinks that's going to happen.

"People will just leave their trash there. They won't take it home for sure," beach visitor Christopher Estipona said.

The trash cans have been gone since Thursday.

The National Park Service performed a similar experiment and removed the trash cans at Baker Beach. At that beach, the removal was permanent.