Now that the snow is melted and I’m taking longer walks again, I am dismayed with the amount of trash along my various routes. Not only do I see trash in people’s yards and along neighborhood sidewalks, but even more trash along the walking/bike paths that weave through this town.
When I was young (yep, way back when) our country and its states were vastly increasing our state and federal highway system to handle the exponential increase in auto traffic across the country. With this vast network and increased use, came the mindless tossing of garbage along our roads, in the ditches, in our parks, and along fence lines. Fast food packaging was probably the densest of items. The USDA came up with a mascot and tag line to spearhead its efforts to stop the continued mindless actions of our citizens and promote clean up of the existing eyesore.
I think it’s time to resurrect Woodsy the Hoot Owl and the Give a Hoot, Don’t Pollute efforts across this beautiful land. It’s not enough to just adopt a highway. It’s a much larger problem.