The City Government of Escalante has issued a public warning against leaving garbage on the city's sandbars and coastal areas. The City Tourism Office posted the advisory on its Facebook page on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
The wording was direct. The city said it strongly condemns improper garbage disposal on the coast and described the sandbars as part of Escalante's natural heritage. "They are not dumping grounds and should never be treated as such," the advisory reads.
Who the warning covers
The reminder applies to everyone who uses the coast: guests, residents, boat operators and vendors. The city named three things to stop doing:
- Leaving trash on a sandbar when you go
- Tossing waste into the water or onto the shore
- Leaving behind bottles, food packaging, plastic or anything else you brought
What the city asks instead
- Carry your garbage back with you.
- Dispose of it at proper waste facilities.
- Leave no trace that you were there.
Penalties
Anyone caught violating environmental laws and local ordinances may face penalties and other enforcement action, the advisory said. The city added that it will keep monitoring coastal areas and act against improper waste disposal.
The advisory did not name a specific ordinance or fine amount.
Why a sandbar is different
A sandbar has no bins and no garbage collection. Whatever is left on the sand is carried off by the next tide or the wind, and it ends up in the sea.
Plastic does not disappear there. It breaks into smaller pieces and stays in the same waters that local fishers work and visitors swim in.
Before you board the boat
- Pack a trash bag, plus a spare.
- Bring water in a refillable jug instead of single-use bottles.
- Pack food in reusable containers.
- Pocket the small things: cigarette butts, bottle caps and candy wrappers are the easiest to leave behind.
- Sweep your spot before you leave, and pick up anything that is not sand or shell.
- Ask your boat operator where to drop off trash once you are back on the mainland.
The city closed its advisory with an appeal for everyone to help look after a place that is shared by all. A trash bag in the boat is the simplest way to answer it.
Source: Escalante City Tourism public advisory, posted on Facebook on October 6, 2026.