I wouldn't say we live on a beautiful street. It's pretty active with morning traffic, some of the houses are getting redone, there are Keep Out and Beware of Dog signs, and everyone keeps to themselves. Even though it's a little rough around the edges, it still is quaint with parks, and some of the neighbors put effort into their flower beds. When the sunshine hits the right way, the leaves on the trees glow, and it's warming to be around. We even get some of the best sunsets I've seen on the hill that descends to our home, and the roads surrounding us are prime for cycling.
Uri and I enjoy going for morning walks, but it can be frustrating. Trash will pepper the sidewalks, and litter will rest in neighbors' lawns for days, more than the socially acceptable amount of time when you're a homeowner. It worsens after trash day, when garbage cans tip over, and lightweight refuse gets blown a few blocks away. The playground from the elementary school also frequently sees discarded candy wrappers and water bottles that blow across adjacent properties. During our morning stroll, my eyes continually scan the sides of the road and the grassy barriers, and it's hard to talk and think of anything else when I'm wishing I could just quickly pick up the trash.
Queue, the solution. I started carrying a bag with me in the morning, and it is like scratching an itch that I couldn't reach. Some days, I fill a small grocery store bag. Other days, I have overflown garbage bags. While I am glad I am helping out the environment by cleaning up the community, it mainly allows me to enjoy my walks without being irritated. Plus, I feel good doing it. Glancing back at the way I came, I see tidy streets and green grass, unobstructed by plastic.
My hope is that this may have a small rippling effect. On a handful of occasions, people have stopped. One woman noticed me in front of her house, and she stooped to pick up a wet pizza box on the ground, looking embarrassed and giving excuses, claiming that someone had just dumped it there recently (though I had seen it there a while). Other people have thanked me. One person provided his trash can for me to dump my findings.
I'm not very sure why this seemingly doesn't bother others the way it bothers me. It is important to feel a sense of responsibility for the place you live. To care for it. To make it better. Perhaps if someone sees me doing this then, in the future when they see a plastic bottle on the ground, they might pause a moment and think to pick it up.
Maybe.
Kommentare