Tourists tie piles of trash — including tampons, condoms, panties — to Brooklyn Bridge in disgusting trend
Keeping New York’s iconic Brooklyn Bridge clean has become a daily battle, as litter-loving visitors leave everything from hair ties to underwear dangling from the pedestrian fence.
Scores of tissues, condoms, tampons, hairbands, and even panties now adorn the bridge, creating a trashy display that cleanup crews struggle to keep up with. “We literally just walked past it and saw it and got excited,” said Helen Burton from Birmingham, England. Her two daughters and a friend each added a “bobble” — a hair tie — to the fence.
“It’s something we had on us, so we thought it’s quite nice!” Burton explained. The group hadn’t heard of the trend before visiting the landmark, but were eager to join in.
“We can leave something here to show that we’ve been here,” said 13-year-old Amelie, while her 11-year-old sister, Jess, called the growing pile “authentic.”
The odd habit has existed on and off for years, but surged in recent weeks as the city’s attention turned to a cold snap and heavy snowfall. Local residents have stepped up to combat the growing eyesore.
“I walk over the bridge almost every day. And one day I was just like, ‘I’ve had enough!’” said Ellen Baum of Brooklyn Heights. Since February 3, she has documented her daily trash collection on social media.
Clearing a “section” of the fence — the space between two poles — takes Baum about 90 minutes, yet tourists continue adding candy wrappers, tissues, and more, even as they watch her work. “It’s just disgusting,” said Baum, 37. She has been confronted by those who argue the trash wall is “global art.”
“I completely disagree. The interactions and conversations on the bridge are the art. The bridge itself is the art. We don’t need literal trash to prove it,” Baum said.
On Monday, with help from volunteer group Pick Up Pigeons, Baum removed nearly 13 pounds of debris, including tissues, hair ties, receipts, and Band-Aids. But by Wednesday, an entire wall of trash had returned. Observers watched as pedestrians added their own items, some claiming it brought “good luck.”
Darcey Baldock, 16, of London, added a scrunchie “because everyone else is,” while her mother, Victoria, acknowledged the scene wasn’t exactly “pretty.” Many suggested tourists leave behind personal items like bracelets or locks — though even those are illegal — instead of trash.
Passersby frequently show visible disgust. “It’s not the best look, but it is New York,” said Marilie Padua of Toronto, criticizing tourists for their “empty thoughts.”
The Department of Transportation, which maintains the bridge, said it conducts routine cleaning along the pedestrian pathway but did not specify frequency or cite the number of littering tickets issued. A spokesperson added:
“The iconic Brooklyn Bridge has been called ‘America’s Eiffel Tower,’ and cluttering it with debris detracts from the enjoyment of everyone who uses the bridge and burdens the crews who maintain this historic landmark.”
The trash problem is the latest chapter in a decade-long struggle to manage tourist behavior. Previously, the bridge was overwhelmed by “love locks” copied from Paris’ Pont des Arts — some of which have buckled under weight. Thousands of locks still litter the bridge, with several piles of clipped locks scattered across the wooden deck.
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