Monday, July 14, 2008

Litterbutt

OK, so... seeing 3 people litter in the past 5 days has pushed me into this rant. All 3 litterers were driving big trucks (just a fact), and I have 2 license plate numbers out of 3! The first 2 incidences were of trash flying out of the truck bed - fast food bag/packaging and soda can. The 3rd incidence and what sent me over the edge happened today. I was sitting at a red light, when I saw the driver of the truck right in front of me open his car door and drop a to-go cup on the ground. Seriously. SERIOUSLY? I can't think of many other behaviors that infuriate me more than littering. This is not a new blog topic (or rant) so I dug up my old blog entry... so here you go, though unfortunately the linked article no longer works.

Blog Entry from May 9, 2007:

Those of you who know me, know how I feel about littering. If not, well... it basically makes my face turn red and steam come out of my ears. Oh and don't forget the long rant it starts when I see someone litter! I came across a great article in USA Today titled Tattlers unite! Citizen sites share the shame which lists websites that allow anyone to tattle on someone for anything ranging from bad driving to littering. I LOVE it!!! I can't tell you how many times I've caught people littering... as if they think the world is their trash can. Watch out litterers (sp?) if I'm able to catch you with proof I'll report you on litterbutt.com! Here's a video rant from a guy talking about throwing out cigarette butts (click here). Have fun checking out the websites, here's the ones listed in the article:

4 comments:

  1. Litter drives me crazy, especially since so much of it is fast food packaging, which is a constant reminder that our forests are being destroyed to make packaging that is quickly unwrapped and thrown out the window... for more info check out our new website: nofreerefills.org

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  2. Hi CMB - it's good to hear from you! I will have to look more into Picken's plan. We're about the same, 75% recyclables and 25% trash. I have my eye on a compost container but haven't committed yet. I need to just do it already... just not sure where to put it in our postage stamp backyard. I wish we had curbside composting like I've heard some cities are doing. Not sure how that works, I imagine it's pretty stinky. If any readers are able to put their compost to the curb let me/us know - I'm curious!

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  3. SQ - what gets under my skin the most are disposable items that are used for all but 2 minutes or less. What's the point?

    Litter has always been a pet peeve of mine. Could stem from learning as a little kid (as a girl scout) that you always leave a place cleaner than you found it. It's incomprehensible to me how any one can think the earth is their personal trash can. And of course all that trash/litter is washed down the storm drains in ends up in our oceans...

    Ah, I'm ranting again! I'll step off my soapbox now.

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  4. I had surbside green waste pickup in Seattle. In Seattle, there are three containers, one for recyclables, one for trash (and thankfully by far the smallest bin), and the third was for green waste. Green waste includes yard clippings and food scraps. It was never stinky because it was picked up weekly, so I would hardly call it "compost" by that time. No different than tossing food scraps in your Houston trash can to bake for a week in that regard. This stuff isn't rocket science and I just wish it was a nationwide thing.

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