EDITORIAL: We can all play a part in canning litter

Published 8:45 am Thursday, February 27, 2020

Every so often, the local conversation turns to litter and the issue of unsightly trash that all too often scatters our roadways. The underlying theme in most of these discussions is simple: Residents need to take personal responsibility for tidying up our spaces because we all have a vested interest in keeping and maintaining a clean community. 

As is often the case in life, it can be easy to make excuses, saying that one person can’t make a difference, or that recycling is too inconvenient and not worth the effort. Truth is, however, that’s simply not the case at all. 

Litter isn’t just an aesthetic issue. There are other key factors as well. Unkempt neighborhoods and unsightly trash impacts quality of life and community morale. Not only is the environment impacted by the carelessness of littering; money is also wasted as taxpayers money goes to employ people to pick up trash. Public health issues develop as litter accumulates and develops a breeding ground for bacteria, while also attracting critters. 

But we can all chip in and put a stop to this issue, with a little mindfulness and effort. Here are a few simple tips we can all put into practice:

• Make sure your trash is secure. It sounds so simple, but apparently, it’s a component of the local litter issue that is too often overlooked. Newspapers, cans and other light-weight waste materials can be easily picked up by the wind and scattered far away from the correct waste and recycling receptacles. Make sure that the garbage you are disposing of is securely placed and will not be spread to other places. If you own a construction or hauling business, make sure your trucks are covered when transporting material to and from sites.
• Participate in a community cleanup day. Sign up to volunteer at a Keep Milledgeville-Baldwin cleanup. Better yet — organize one in your own neighborhood. Connect with KMBB for more information on how to get started by emailing kmbbdirector@gmail.com.
• Keep a litter bag in your vehicle. Trash can easily be taken by the wind and blow out of a window or a car door when opened. Keep a bag in your vehicle and throw your trash in the bag to dispose of properly later. 
• Donate old clothes. Consider donating old clothing to The Salvation Army or Goodwill. That way, there is little risk that your items will end up scattered along the side of the road.
• Bag all household garbage. Don’t let items pile up beside the trash bin and run the risk that animals will scatter them.

Other small changes that can help include switching from plastic grocery bags to reusable cloth bags, carrying a refillable water bottle instead of buying bottled water, buying products in larger packaging instead of individually wrapped portions, starting a compost bin in the backyard for food scraps (creating subsequent fertilizer for gardening).

Make an effort to tidy up the space around you. We all have a part to play in beautifying our community.

Being responsible for our own trash is certainly an area where we can all chip in and it’s not too much to ask of any of us.