Trash talk
Give a hoot, don’t pollute. We all heard this phrase as kids, and the words still ring true today.
Years ago it seemed like there were more educational campaigns to discourage littering. I’m sure many remember the memorable “Keep America Beautiful” PSA with Iron Eyes Cody in the 1970s. The campaign depicted a Native American paddling a canoe into a busy urban area and shedding a tear over the litter all around and thrown at his feet. It was a powerful reminder that so many of the negative effects on our beautiful environment are, sadly, caused by us.
We all know as the snow melts, the litter is exposed in ugly ways, and especially visible on our roadsides. Each spring I walk the country roads leading to my cabins and pick up trash. I find it difficult to walk by and not pick it up as it creates such a blight on the otherwise beautiful surroundings.
And what do I find? Unbelievable amounts of garbage. I fill multiple bags within a couple mile stretch. The vast majority is cans, plastic bottles and bags, and food wrappers, inexplicably tossed from passing vehicles.
It makes me incredibly sad. Why would anyone think it’s ok to toss trash out of their car? I mean do we really want to live amongst our trash?
It’s hard to believe that in many cases this means people are not only tossing trash but also money since Michigan has a beverage container deposit law. Perhaps expanding the law to include water and juice containers might be worthwhile, as many have advocated in recent years.
Is it really that much effort to recycle, deposit trash in a garbage can, or take it with you? I have come to the conclusion that it’s a combination of laziness and an “I don’t care” attitude.
I think for many of us, the covid pandemic forced us to take a look at our lives and hit the reset button. Like war, climate change and so many other ills in our world, littering may be caused by us, but that means we can also make it stop.
Littering on roadsides needs to stop. We can do better.
Keep America Beautiful is celebrating the Great American Cleanup's 24th year in 2022, between March 21 and June 22.