BOZEMAN, Mont. — The city of Bozeman shared a snapshot of some alarming numbers of the environmental and public health impact from urban camping.
At a Bozeman City Commission meeting held earlier this year, the commission requested more information on the environmental and public health impact from urban camping.
City staff came back to commissioners with the data this week and the numbers are concerning.
So far in fiscal year 2025 from July 1 to Sept. 30, the city Solid Waste Division has collected and taken 23.5 tons of waste to logan landfill.
The Stormwater Division has responded to eight separate reports of illicit discharge related to urban campers, this includes reports and findings of sewage discharged into waterways, rights of way, and oil leaks.
The Neighborhood Services Division has also collected 15 full pickup loads of trash, 36 five-gallon buckets of human feces, five bottles of urine, and 24 needles.
Some public commenters from Tuesday night’s city commission meeting expressed their concerns.
“We need to get them off the street. It’s horrible. Stormwater nobody wants to be drinking bad water,” said a Bozeman resident.
“When you put the stats up there, I was astounded. I would think that would be illegal dumping and you guys want to continue this insanity. It just doesn’t seem right,” said a Bozeman resident.
A city neighborhood services official tells NBC Montana it has cost the city nearly $1,000 this fiscal year to drop off the waste at logan landfill.
Numerous city departments are out weekly cleaning up trash and waste.
“We pick up stuff that ranges from couches and your traditional trash that you would see in like a generic kitchen trash can to refrigerators and other things that are left behind or even dropped off in some instances,” said Ben Bailey, Bozeman neighborhood services and code compliance program manager.
Bailey said the city does monthly clean ups around urban camping areas to get a handle on trash accumulation.
The process can take a few minutes to a full day to get done.
Bailey says having the new urban camping ordinance provisionally approved allows the city to have accountability.
“With the permitted system, it’s permitted to an individual that has maybe a couple of people that are living with them, but we know who they are and if they’re permitted to a campsite that continuously has issues with manner issues as we call it, then they’re the ones who are held accountable,” said Bailey.
The new urban camping ordinance will have its second reading on Oct. 22.
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