One of the most expansive and growing industries is that related to waste, trash, garbage and debris. All around the world, we face a mountain of trash. It is a terrific money-maker for those committed to dealing with trash and who are good at using trucks and other technologies to remove such material from towns and cities and country lanes, neighbourhoods and districts, and garbage cans and bins liberally dispersed throughout our communities. Sometimes there are more big garbage trucks on our streets than there are motorcycles, buses or vans!
But there is another aspect of this garbage glut that is frankly overdue for a renaissance of action. That is, dealing with the aimlessly scattered newspapers or newspaper fragments, napkins, food boxes, coffee cups, cigarette butts, condoms, and receipts…..these materials make our streets and byways ugly and they create work for home owners, businesses and city and municipal departments, as they constantly scour for this waste material that should already be in a garbage can or bin. All it would take to rectify this situation is respect for our environments and each other. People who thoughtlessly litter can stop. They can use the cans provided by tax-supported programs from which we all benefit. Each of us could “adopt” a city block or neighbourhood wherein we go around once a week and grab the bits and pieces that we find on sidewalks, in curbs, in shrubs and on publicly-facing lawns, etc. Our community would be much more attractive and pleasant. We all do live here! I have a new garbage pincer device that I am trying out for my role as a cleaner-upper.
Another related, but perhaps quite different focus for action we could undertake as whole communities, is the mass application of fresh paint on buildings and fences. I have always thought that there should be a national or provincial “beautification day” for our communities wherein people were given at least a half day off work to scrape and paint and stain our buildings, either anew or as a refresh. This could be done for businesses and residences, and especially for people who are not physically able to paint up their own place of business or dwelling. And, what would make sense is that paint stores, lumber yards, etc., could donate the materials including stain and paint, but also brushes, scrapers, pans and the like, or provide such below cost for these purposes. We would see a lot more civic pride showing through in pursuing these activities together on the same day. What a difference it would make to what we see around us. Also, it might inspire folks to plant a few flowers and clean their windows, among other things. The psychological and sociological impact would help us all appreciate our surroundings more than we do, and to take their beauty less at face value as if someone else was responsible.
So pick up the garbage and paint the walls! Cheers!!