As I have mentioned before, I am very anti-litter. I have called the Pennsylvania Recycling and Litterbug (1-888-LITTERBUG) hot-line dozens upon dozens of times to report people throwing trash out their car windows. I go around my neighborhood many times throughout the year to pick up litter. If I see trash in a park and there is a nearby garbage can, I dispose of it properly.
Last month, once the snow melted, I noticed the large amount of trash left behind an empty lot at the bottom of our street, a lot from which I have picked up trash numerous times. This time I decided I was tired of cleaning up after everyone else, so I called code enforcement. The person I spoke with said she would try to get in touch with the owner of the lot, but it may take a few weeks for anything to happen. Much to my surprise, in just over one week, I saw someone picking up litter from the lot. I am not sure if that person was a concerned citizen like I, or if her picking up the trash was a direct result of my phone call. Regardless, the lot looked pretty good, and it actually remained in relatively decent shape for a few weeks.
Since today is Earth Day, and I have not picked up neighborhood litter for months, I figured I should do my part. I walked down my street and picked up trash along it, the empty lot, and the next street over, including the edges of people's yards. I talked to some guy who commended me for what I was doing. I told him that I pay taxes and I am just tired of the trash. The idealist in my keeps thinking that by my trying to keep the area clean, people will be less likely to litter.
I covered probably two- to three-tenths of a mile and ended up with the above blue bag full of trash. The downside is I refuse to go through the bag and separate out the recyclables (too gross, even with gloves). But at least I am getting the litter off the street. All in all, I am happy that I ended up with this amount. In the past, I have covered less ground and picked up more trash. Maybe more people are picking up trash or fewer people are littering. Either way, I say, yeah!
Happy Earth Day! Let's all do our part to take care of this place.
Last month, once the snow melted, I noticed the large amount of trash left behind an empty lot at the bottom of our street, a lot from which I have picked up trash numerous times. This time I decided I was tired of cleaning up after everyone else, so I called code enforcement. The person I spoke with said she would try to get in touch with the owner of the lot, but it may take a few weeks for anything to happen. Much to my surprise, in just over one week, I saw someone picking up litter from the lot. I am not sure if that person was a concerned citizen like I, or if her picking up the trash was a direct result of my phone call. Regardless, the lot looked pretty good, and it actually remained in relatively decent shape for a few weeks.
Since today is Earth Day, and I have not picked up neighborhood litter for months, I figured I should do my part. I walked down my street and picked up trash along it, the empty lot, and the next street over, including the edges of people's yards. I talked to some guy who commended me for what I was doing. I told him that I pay taxes and I am just tired of the trash. The idealist in my keeps thinking that by my trying to keep the area clean, people will be less likely to litter.
Happy Earth Day! Let's all do our part to take care of this place.
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