Trash pandemic – pick up your trash!

Headlines! After the Japanese Soccer team played in the World Cup their fans immediately brought out trash bags and gloves to clean up the stadium. Just as amazing the team actually cleaned up their locker room and left a THANK YOU note. (Realize they lost the game and were out of the World Cup!)  What an incredible example! have a crazy wife who has this thing for picking up garbage wherever we are regardless of what’s happening. A few days ago we’re on a hike with our dog herd and she found a large trash bag and proceeds to fill it. 

I admit that I get rather irate when I see someone toss a couch or large household item on the side of the road! What’s crazy is that there is a Goodwill less than a mile away. Bigger picture is that our oceans are filling up with garbage which is killing our Whales and other ocean life. I can’t fathom that a Whale recently died and washed up to shore with a stomach full of plastic bottles and plastic bags. How is it possible that we claim to be a civilized world but yet don’t think twice about leaving or tossing our left overs all over the place. 

What’s incredible is that our city has a monthly big trash pickup. So regardless of where you live it’s possible to deposit your old couch, fridge or stove on the sidewalk in front of your house. I’m always amazed to see the few who do this leave gigantic piles of tree trimming, old furniture or whatever out. The fact is that the city attempts to control the trash pandemic but too many are lazy and don’t care enough to toss their trash into a trash receptacle. 

The fact is that the average American throws away enough food and clothing to seriously help the world hunger crisis. I know that one person’s trash can become another person’s treasures. So why is it the case that few are teaching their kids and family to recycle, share what’s left over and clearly get away from tossing stuff on the roads or trails of our incredible country. 

It’s time to for everyone to carry with them a trash bag and gloves to help stop the ongoing trash crisis.