Tom Carson- A One Man Copper Clean Up Crew

Tom Carson is a readily recognizable face alongside one of the many roads that wind through Copperopolis as well as in the midst of a fund raising event for the community.

A resident of Copperopolis since 2002 Tom has a background in sales and is a veteran of the Vietnam War, serving 13 years, leaving as a Major in the United States Army. Today he is best known as the ‘trash man of Copper.’ A moniker he did not venture to gain, just a name that stuck due to his diligence in beautifying Copperopolis.

Five years ago Tom began noticing the large amounts of trash strewn about the shores by the O’Byrnes Ferry bridge after weekends in the hot summer months. After contacting the Department of Transportation and the Sheriff Department to locate the responsible party for trash clean up, he was passed from department to department with no one taking clear responsibility. Finally he was told that the crews from the prison, who many years back use to clean up the area, are now cleaning and completing maintenance on only government buildings. It was then that he took it upon himself to begin the trash clean-up on his own. “The amount of trash was just sickening” he said.

Tom started at the bridge, working both sides. Once he got that under control he began hitting the heavily traveled roads of Copper. He has a list of rules that he follows:

-Pick up twice a week, not to exceed four bags per week (“The 32 gallon bags get very heavy.”)

-Don’t go down hills (“I tend to slip.”)

-Don’t go where snakes are. (“I don’t like snakes.”)

-Limit pick up attempts to 3 times (“It obviously wants to stay there if I can’t get it in three tries.”)

Tom has found mattresses, dishwashers, driver’s licenses, credit cards, televisions, tires, approximately $1.25 in change, and many unmentionables.

 While people in town are now use to the sight of Tom picking up trash they assume he is either completing community service or receiving pay for the job…it is neither. So though he appreciates people waving, it is not necessary to tell him where there may be a large amount of trash, he hints that if trash is seen, then maybe it should be picked up by the seer. “I get behind in the summer” he says, hoping that the Copper Pride clean-up day scheduled for April 16, 2011 will get people out to clean up the community.

Tom is thankful to those in town that have made it a bit easier on him as far as what to do with the large amounts of trash he collects. Lake Tulloch True Value helps by giving him a break on the cost of trash bags, Mike of Mike’s Auto absorbs the cost of tire recycling, and the transfer station allows Tom multiple drops.