This week's question focuses on the issue of litterbugs and what we can do about them. Traditional approaches to managing litter such as clean-up projects act as a temporary solution to remove the litter and do little to prevent its recurrence. The annual London Clean & Green campaign is a perfect example of a program that works for a couple of weeks, then attention to litter apparently peters out over the rest of the year.
Probably because of our early spring this year, the unsightliness of litter seems to be everywhere. It is especially visible around bus stops, major roadways, and even in neighbourhoods and parks. Plastic bags, paper cups and wraps, small and large, are quite literally in the air. Litter, of course, is a very visible example of the "tragedy of the commons". If it's public property; just toss it, somebody else will pick it up -- or not. Instead of shoving that pop can or plastic bottle in your purse, bag or jacket and putting it in the blue box when you get home, somebody will pick it up -- or not. Littering is a nasty habit for people acting out social disaffection, self-centred behaviour, or simply not caring. Managing litter in London consumes financial and human resources that would be better directed to more productive activities.
Does litter bother you, or are you resigned to it? What can we do, if anything? Run education campaigns, call out by-law enforcement, post photos online, seek cooperative action from community groups, businesses and business associations, or nothing at all? What's the answer?
Litter really does bother me and it bothers me that so many people are resigned to it or chose to ignore it. If I buy a chocolate bar or drink or whatever if I cannot find a garbage can I keep the wrapper until I get home or find one. Now I don’t go out of my way to pick up garbage but I really wish I did this. There are garbage cans downtown or around the city, usually near bus stops, so really there is no excuse for littering. I live in Summerside and when I do see garbage around my street or at the park I do try to pick it up and throw it out. I assume it is from kids.
I think that action should be taken in the form of education from posters or pamphlets, but will these just become garbage themselves. Perhaps if people actually understand the effects or impacts of garbage they will stop and even help clean it up. Littering on the street could be carried to the sewers via rain and wind and end up in our Thames River, which people already believe is polluted but is actually improving and they should care about polluting it not only because of the chemicals it could release but fish or wildlife could choke on it, or it could wreck habitats of fish or turtles or other creatures.
If people are caught littering by law enforcement why not enforce a ticket and a small fine, maybe then it would actually be taken seriously. Yeah there are harsher crimes but littering is a real issue too, it would be hard to track but maybe it could work. I have had friends post photos and status’ regarding littering to their facebook pages, one even claimed she cleaned up garbage at the bus stop but the can was full so they tried to bring it on the bus to throw out and the driver yelled at her and told her to take it off the bus.
Maybe we need proper city maintenance of the garbage cans on city property, as well as street clean ups, but how much of this could be controlled and how often. Perhaps community or environmental groups could get involved, organize clean ups regularly and for these groups to also encourage people to stop littering. Just some food for thought! There is no excuse for littering, its bad for the environment, the community and our own health. Its not only not pretty its rude. Would you like it if someone littered on your lawn, no so why are you doing it?
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