Running in country environs is truly idyllic. What better way to immerse oneself in the singular accomplishment of conquering miles powered only by your own strength and will. The beautiful vistas, fresh air and surprise meetings with wild life offer a welcome reprise from charged city culture and an escape to an inner rhythm. Sadly litter is a persistent and rude intrusion in the landscape.
There is not a trail, street or small country road that is not marred by garbage. On woodland trails it is not unusual to happen upon garbage dumps of bottles, cans, bathroom fixture, stoves, tires and even entire automobiles. I will admit that some of these have offered interesting archeological digs to a time when the term recycling may not have existed and little thought was given to the effects of this detritus on the environment.
It’s the current, careless roadside trash that is truly disturbing. Running along the shoulder of the road offers an intimate view of this eyesore. I can itemize this flotsam and jetsam of our disposable consumer culture in a short list of very specific categories; Bud Light, Coors light, Pepsi, Sprite, the variety of McDonalds’ packaging and in North Carolina cigarette packs. I don’t want to jump to conclusions but I wonder if a demographic profile of litterers couldn’t be produced from this list.
I think come November 8 my next project may be RateMyRoad.com. I’ll encourage readers to go out, survey their streets, compile a list of the trash they find, take pictures and encourage their neighbors to see what their streets look like. Maybe we can organize a national clean up your street day and have Anheuser-Busch, Coors, PepsiCo, McDonalds and big tobacco sponsor it.
I think I’m going to be very busy.
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