Letter: The Litter Problem
Letter: The Litter Problem
I love springtime and all it has to offer, that is except for the litter that appears in our bushes, ditches and highly traveled sidewalks that lead into our quant village. Some of it may have gotten there by the wind, but most of it is there because someone decided they were done with the beer/seltzer/coffee they were drinking while walking to town and tossed their unwanted can without missing a step. The areas where the litter is most prevalent is typically the areas where there is the most foot traffic. One such area is the pathway that runs between Tim and Bonnie’s and Elizabeth Street. The bushes are loaded with empty vodka bottles, beer cans and general garbage thrown there by someone too darn lazy to put these items into the proper receptacle. This can also be seen as you walk either sidewalk along Route 242/219.
This problem is not just a village issue, but a town-wide issue. Take a walk on Hencoop or Plum Creek (two roads I frequently walk) and you will see cans within feet of each other. Then there are the Airbnb homes that put their garbage out either improperly or too early/late. Once the crows and critters get to it or the garbage cans get knocked over, the mess becomes enormous. I could organize a town-wide clean-up/take my walks with a garbage bag in hand, but will it prevent it from continuing? My guess is it will not. This problem seems to get worse every year… well, at least it does on my road. I know this because I typically will grab a few garbage bags and clean as far as I can walk and reach, only to have to do this again the following year.
My question is: why are people just tossing their empties and garbage wherever they want, knowing that someone else will have to clean it up? And who should be ultimately responsible for all of this unwanted trash? My theory is that this “I don’t care” attitude is much bigger than just tossing your empty beer can. It demonstrates a level of entitlement and arrogance that seems to be growing more common and widespread. It does not discriminate by age, gender, race or nationality since I have witnessed this behavior/attitude represented by all of the above.
I know I cannot control the way other people behave; I can only control my own behavior and encourage others to do the same. I still think organizing a town-wide garbage pickup day would be a great idea. My concern is how do we get the point across to visitors/residents that this is our town and we do not appreciate or desire to pick up after you? That this behavior is not only unwanted, but it is also willfully wrong. It demonstrates such a lack of character and depravity and will no longer be tolerated. Because what separates privilege from entitlement is gratitude. And gratitude begins when the sense of entitlement ends.
- Kim Duke,
Local resident & business owner
