In the picturesque rivers of Sacramento, a surprising menace lurks beneath the surface: abandoned e-scooters from rental companies like Bird and Lime. Crystal Tobias, a dedicated river cleanup volunteer, reports that during her cleanup efforts, she encounters these abandoned scooters far more often than most residents might suspect. With numerous scooters filling waterways like Steelhead Creek and the American River, the environmental impact is concerning, as the lithium-ion batteries can leach harmful materials into the water.
This isn’t just about visual clutter; it’s about real pollution affecting habitats critical to salmon and steelhead. According to city spokesperson Gabby Miller, the City of Sacramento doesn’t take responsibility for towing these submerged scooters, leaving it to rental companies to manage the fallout. While both Bird and Lime insist they’re committed to retrieving these scooters, volunteers like Tobias argue they’ve rarely seen any action from the companies during cleanup days.
City Councilmember Phil Pluckebaum recognizes the mobility benefits these scooters provide but stresses that companies need to be accountable for their devices’entire lifecycle. If companies are going to profit from these services, shouldn’t they step up to clean up the mess too? After all, our rivers deserve better than to be a dumpster for e-waste.
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
