Surprise, Surprise, San Francisco Is Among the Dirtiest Cities in America

By Erin Sherbert Thu., Sep. 20 2012 at 8:33 AM

Seagulls ... the real culprits

Yesterday, we enlightened readers with the unsavory news that Californians (that includes you health-conscious San Franciscans) are getting fatter by the minute. Don't believe us? Look no further than the empty food container next to you.

Along with getting fat, we're also getting filthy.

According to Travel + Leisure magazine, San Francisco was ranked No. 11 on the list of America's dirtiest cities. We're squeezed right there between Houston, which came in at No. 10, and Washington, D.C. Here's the silver lining: We aren't as big of a cesspool as Los Angeles, which ranked No. 4 on the list.

See Also: 5 Reasons Californians Are Getting Fatter

We know what you're thinking -- blame our pigpen of a city on the homeless. Turns out, this time, it's not their fault. Apparently, all our grit and grime can be traced back to our love for food.

San Francisco is well-liked for its diverse cuisines and kick-ass fine dining. We also love our street food, and obviously we love to leave our food in the street, literally. You can read all about how trashy we are from the magazine itself, which compiled this list based on reader surveys:

All that takeout can pile up. A recent study found that one of the biggest culprits for pollution in the San Francisco Bay is food containers -- though ironically, they may be floating in from neighboring cities.

That's a good point. So go ahead, blame your mess on your cousins in Oakland.

Follow us on Twitter at @TheSnitchSF and @SFWeekly

Tags:

food containers, homeless in San Francisco, San Francisco is dirty, takeout food, Travel + Leisure magazine

We Recommend

Melinda

Ahh, but the air is sweet. The air pollution is so low in SF, compared to Oakland.

The_Yeti_Knows

I've always preferred dirty girls, but might be drawing the line at those thick,yellow toe-nails, because this one time...... at pedicure camp.............@Melinda

Cunning

1 Like

Gees, I like living here except for the smug Frisco attitude. Yes, I am well aware that you "don't call it Frisco," and generally I respect it... but its the smug-for-no-reason and elitist attitude of people like the author, Erin Sherbet, that give this city a bad name, Frisco. These Frisco-ites are people so shallow and conforming that they always consist of these 3 elements... 1.) Bonding with people over thinking Frisco is better than LA... even though 9:10 of them have never lived in LA. They talk up San Francisco like it has a small penis and needs to over compensate by degrading other cities, especially Los Angeles or Oakland. Generally these people can not make friends in the city with out bonding over this topic... sad really. 2.) Eats at restaurants in gentrified areas like The Mission and The SOMA. She knows that the place was a 'ghetto' before but some Chefs and hipsters moved in and made it more Frisco friendly. Little does she know or care that hard working blue collar families of color were evicted from the area so she could eat at the new Cuban-infused Korean BBQ restaurant... on the upside, the place has Fair-trade coffee. 3.) Think that they are San Francisco because they write an article about Frisco.

popalishaa

@Cunning Eats at restaurants in gentrified areas like The Mission and The SOMA. She knows that the place was a 'ghetto' before but some Chefs and hipsters moved in and made it more Frisco friendly. Little does she know or care that hard working blue collar families of color were evicted from the area so she could eat at the new Cuban-infused Korean BBQ restaurant... on the upside, the place has Fair-trade coffee.

PREACH!

maandpa

Oh yes, lets blame the less fortunate for all of San Francisco's problems, it has absolutely nothing to do with the decrease tax revenue, thanks to Howard Jarvis and Proposition 13. When we moved here in 1968, San Francisco was sparkling clean, some thanks to Herb Cain who kept politicians on their toes. Stop blaming the little guy for the poor choices made by San Francisco's social and political leaders for the past 25 years.

red.marcy.rand topcommenter

@maandpa You are nuts ! Prop 13 is the only reason most homeowners can stay in their homes. Herb Caen was a leftist moron who was part of the problem here, not the solution.

maandpa

@red.marcy.rand @maandpa It's time for our generation to give back, we grew up with clean streets and affordable homes. When we purchased homes in the early 70's, our parents generation didn't try to gouge us, now we watch as neighbors make 400% profit on homes they bought for peanuts. And we all know people who've inherit their family home and go right on paying taxes at pre Prop 13 rates.

Montira Warran

No, Larry...they're talking about actual garbage and stuff all over the place.

Lawrence Dahlia

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2010/07/porn_san_francisco_nsfw.php

Lawrence Dahlia

Is this what you are talking about :

Rose Schindler

i don't find this surprising but I also work in the loin

Adelaida Caballero

San Francisco's signature scent should be Hobo Piss..

Montira Warran

Yup, I know. How Embarrassing!

Krista Griego

After spending time in Europe I came back realizing cities don't HAVE to look/smell like crap.

Saavik Wilcox-Hamilton

No surprise there.

Sf Steel

Holla!!!!!

red.marcy.rand topcommenter

No surprise here. and, yes, much of it is due to the homeless. Oakland is even dirtier and one segment does by far the most littering and the most crime.

Care to guess ?

taurnguard1

1 Like

Take a look at Market Street after the Gay Pride parade and you won't see much to be proud of. The tourists make the beggars and homeless look like neat freaks.

If it's not their city, there's a bigger chance they won't care where they put their garbage.

On a related note, we need more garbage cans for the public downtown.