Hopefully, many of you have visited our beautiful State and have fantastic memories of the views, wildlife and people. If you have, chances are it was not during or just after break-up because it is UGLY.
As far as I can tell, this is the one downside to living here. Just before spring and green fully arrive, we go through melt. Everything is wet and brown because of all the gravel used during the winter and the mud created during breakup. We also have LOADS of trash uncovered.
For some reason, many people believe it is OK to toss all trash out of their cars in the winter. I don't understand why - maybe because it is easily covered up with snow? Regardless - when the snow leaves - the trash is everywhere. From 27.5 gabillion cigarette butts to full size mattresses, passports to wallets, paper cups to sleeping bags, used shotgun shells to wine bottles...it is all there.
Of course, we don't want of our visitors to remember trash and we really don't want to look at it so for the last 40 years, the city has organized a clean up week. For one full week, they provide trash bag and free drop off at the land fill. The residents and businesses provide the labor and today was my day to pick up trash along the road in an orange safety vest.
Picking up trash gives you lots of time to think about things like how sore you are going to be the next day due to the bending AND how to reduce the trash problem with heavy fines, jail time and prison work crews.
I am thankful our employer is willing to participate and let employees volunteer to help clean up the city. It does make an amazing difference. It is just sad we need to do this each year when the solution seems so simple...
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