Spring is here! The snow has left, hopefully with dreams of the perfect summer to come. It has also left a mess along our country roads, garbage, bottles, cans, all sorts of trash. I wrote about this when I first got my dog and started to walk “my kilometre” of River Road. Eight years later and almost daily I walk with her, a shopping bag in my hand. I pick up trash that people toss, thinking that my front yard is their personal landfill site. Tim Horton’s, Little Caesar’s, McDonald’s and Wendy’s to name a few, beer bottles, beer cans, grocery containers have all decorated this area. This year we had new items, where our snowmobilers did their turnaround, they left used “hot paws” probably thinking the animals could recycle them to warm their dens!
Then COVID-19 struck! Surprisingly the litter almost came to a halt, I actually went four days with an empty garbage bag. Until Friday night, ugh! I know from past experiences that Saturday and Monday mornings were the worse for garbage, I don’t like to label things but “come from aways” arrive on Friday nights and leave on Sunday nights. Are they the culprits? Another new, someone has decided to throw away used surgical gloves and soiled tissues. Really, can people not take their trash home?
Earth day is coming up on April 22. That is a long time to wait for a possible clean-up of our roadways. This also will have the probability of being put on hold. I am putting out a challenge to all who walk their pets and themselves along our country roads or if you own roadside property; take a grocery bag with you, pick up some of the garbage. Start Earth Day today and every day.
Susan McIsaac