Bravo to Ellie Gruber for making this public. The HHK brook bordered our former property and while we did not have people dumping directly there, we always had garbage and debris floating down the brook from storm drains. I would collect plastic bottles, styrofoam cups and plastic lids, straws, tennis balls, plastic bags and a variety of other garbage on a daily basis. Just too much litter all over and little or no respect for our few remaining wild spaces. Members of the throw away, convenience society are also very lazy and selfish.
Who is not “a member of the throw-away convenience society” in Ridgewood, NJ?
Let’s be honest now.
You’re right, but we can do what we can. I wash and reuse all plastic bags, including the thin flimsy kind for produce, and keep some in the car to use at the grocery store and farmers market. I will not accept plastic bags from stores or farmers market stands, but keep fabric tote bags in the car and use those. I have not bought bottled water for quite a few years. I’m not looking for a pat on the back but wanted to note that with a little effort we can make some difference. Looking forward to the day when transparent plastic wrappings that almost everything comes in are recyclable.
I’m not one for throwing garbage on the street (or in the parks), but let’s be honest… recycling is largely an ineffective scam which – in the entire “life cycle” of recycling – is a net negative (neutral at best) to the environment.
It’s greatest accomplishment is creating an industry out of thin air which generates income and employment for many and has the side benefit of making people feel good about themselves.