Are Litterbugs a Thing of the Past?

Are litterbugs a thing of the past? Remember when you were a kid and teachers taught you about how terrible it was to be a litterbug? I do. I remember the posters, the books and the campaigning. Trash belongs in a garbage can, not on the ground. Litterbugs were frowned upon, and I think it sorta worked. We grew up throwing our trash in the can. No one wanted to be a litterbug. Then, I grew up and moved into a corner lot house in the city. All my beliefs about litterbugs being a thing of the past flew swiftly from my mind. Litterbugs are living and thriving and throwing trash all over the place. The proof is all over my front yard.

My front yard, and by mine I mean my family's, has been covered in a pristine blanket of snow all winter long. The snow has melted (yay!) and has revealed a virtual landfill of garbage. It isn't garbage that my family has generated. It is garbage that has been inappropriately disposed of. Someone ate and drank the food and then dropped the empty container on the ground. It has blown and tumbled its way into my garden and onto my lawn. I suppose that over the winter the garbage became buried in snow. Well, it isn't buried any more. 

I am so sad. Sad to think that litterbugs are still out there. Seriously? Where the heck do you think the garbage goes that is thrown on the ground outside? Do litterbugs think it would magically make its way into a garbage receptacle? Nope. My yard. Thanks. We found a whole list of items; water bottles, cigarette packages, disposable coffee cups, plastic yogurt containers, newspapers, chip bags, cookie packages and so much more.

So, after I put on my gloves and collect up the garbage, and dispose of it properly I'm left with the feeling of "where do we go from here?" Maybe we need to reignite the Litterbug awareness campaign. Could it be that adults are the problem? Do we need a public awareness campaign for adults? Well, here is my public awareness campaign and this week's Family Eco-Challenge. First, we will be sure not to contribute to the problem...we will always put our trash in the trash can. If we can't find a trash can, we will carry the trash with us until we find one. Second, the next time we see anyone drop a piece of litter on the ground, we will be speaking up. Speaking up and letting them know that they are in fact a Litterbug. Perhaps we can help the person find a trash can. We can share our story and hope that our words will make a difference. The world needs fewer Litterbugs and more Earth Advocates. 

What is the litter situation like where you live?
Are there lots of Litterbugs or are they a thing of the past?

Would you like to learn more about the Family Eco-Challenge? Head over to the Family Eco-Challenge main page and see what other eco-changes we have made in our home and how you can make changes with your family.