All my life I have been appalled by the callous disregard of a certain segment of our population toward littering.
I would estimate that maybe one per cent of the population of the earth would take drinks and snacks in disposable containers out on their front porch, and then when finished eating and drinking simply wing the containers out in their yard. We’ve all seen yards like that and probably most of us just assume the residents there are either mentally deficient or hopeless alcoholics.
How do we explain the much larger percentage of the population who think its perfectly fine to do the same thing on streets, roads, highways and in parking lots all over the country?
There is no excuse for such anti-social behavior in this day and age. Either they are mentally deficient or they witnessed their mentally deficient parents committing such acts, and for some reason assumed it was sensible to copy them.
I don’t wish to cast aspersions on mentally challenged people, as I know quite a number personally who wouldn’t think of tossing garbage out to pollute the landscape and force others to clean up after them.
It really takes so little effort to keep a bag or box in our vehicles in which to deposit garbage, and then throw it in a trash bin every few days or weeks. I’ve seen people who wouldn’t walk 10 feet out of their way to a garbage receptacle in plain sight.
When I was a kid in Manitoba, (I know, ancient history) the province had a program called Orbit. Every few miles on most major highways they had little pull-offs with big round ball-shaped trash receptacles called Orbits. Sort of a take-off on the space program. There would be signs saying “Put your garbage into Orbit one mile”. I think the program was quite effective at the time but I don’t think its still being used. Somebody from Manitoba correct me if I’m wrong.
The point is, parents should be teaching their kids not to litter with just as much diligence as toilet training and looking both ways before crossing the street.
The best way to teach kids is by example. They should know you think littering is wrong just as surely they should know you think any crime is wrong. Nine times out of ten they will do what they see you do. Don’t let the ignorance continue.