News

Dirty needles, trash piling up under BU Bridge

BOSTON — One of Boston's most recognizable bridges has a big problem underneath. There are piles and piles of trash at the foot of the Boston University Bridge.

Anyone driving over the bridge would never see it, but if you ever happen to walk or ride your bicycle across the bridge, then you'd see a very dirty and dangerous situation down along the Charles River.

Larry Callanan says he's been called out to the spot plenty of times before.

"Thre is an incredible amount of trash out here," said Callanan, Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Callanan supervises the crews that clean up homeless camps along the river. Boston 25 News watched as his workers hauled away big bags of garbage and tents along the foot of the bridge. Along the way, they picked up 35 dirty needles.

We showed pictures of the trash to BU students crossing the bridge.

"I think it's sad. There are problems with poverty, but also we care about the environment in Cambridge," said Kristen Blair.

Unfortunately, Callanan says the problem may get worse when the weather warms up, not just at the BU Bridge, but under bridges all along the river.

"There's quite a few of them [homeless camps] from Boston to Watertown. Tents, you know, I feel bad for them, but the public sees them, they call and we have to move them," said Callanan.

On Thursday, the trash piles were so high Callanan says his crews needed another day to come back and finish the job.