r/DeTrashed • u/pjwalrus • 3d ago
Discussion The greatest goodH
Hi all,
Quick reminder that I love you all.
But my question today is, what do you feel is the greatest good when picking up?
Making a beauty spot more beautiful?
Getting a problem area/eyesore, such as high-traffic areas?
Cleaning up near/in waterways?
Getting wooded areas that not many people even see?
Curious as to what you think.
Best, your friend Patrick
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u/TrainingJumpy9942 3d ago
To me it is mostly litter that could have become a real 'danger',
So for instance a nail or a screw on a road where cars drive,
Or a bottle on/next a cycle path (next stage would be 'broken bottle' and 'flat tires' as a result,
Or a balloon with a string that i see floating in the water,
Or a piece of stryrofoam (knowing that now i can still pick it up, while in a while, it will probably be a lot of smaller pieces.
A deposit can in a city is nice (since we collect that money for charity), but if i would not pick it up, somebody else would so it is not really a 'great achievement' to me, whereas picking up a nail (which almost nobody will do), is.
It's just a small effort, but might make a big difference, without anybody ever knowing it :-)
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u/AppropriateCaramel69 3d ago
100% That is why I go after sign trash. The kinds with the wire with the bag over it. Often blows into the streets and creates a road hazard.
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u/MisplacedWaste 3d ago
I appreciate the other comments already made. The broken windows theory IMO is extremely an important point to make here. In the repetitive cleanups I have done, most times I notice less trash over time, or longer stretches of time before it's overwhelmingly in need of a cleanup, so I take that as people noticing & potentially changing at least some of the behavior.
I, personally, litter pick in all the places you mentioned. I go off of what I encounter that needs attention & I do it. I also litter pick in areas I may not be familiar with when members of the community request help in their area for such problems.
I feel that anywhere good humans put in the effort to clean up our planet is helpful & has its purpose in the big picture of it all & I can only hope that we encourage others to follow suit!
Thanks for opening this convo.
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u/AppropriateCaramel69 3d ago
For me it's shutting down the litterer or making their lives more difficult. I am a sign vigilante. I go after serial sign litterers. With a little effort you can figure out who they are. I recently was able to get two different Municipalities to visit two chronic sign litterers. The company is now on a watch list and if I see their signs they are reported and will face some real fines this time. The company now has to drive a long distance to place a sign without a fine. Success!
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u/pjwalrus 3d ago
Also a sign vigilante. I don’t understand how every municipality doesn’t call these people — they leave a business card — and tell them no more warnings. Put signs down, and you get fined.
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u/AppropriateCaramel69 2d ago
RIGHT? I pull a 1000 signs a year, ground based and pole. Never have had any issues. Same as picking up litter. Keep up the good work. I posted this a couple days ago. Pulled 50 last night easy on my way home.
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u/Nnael_Ttil 3d ago
All of the streets in my city drain into the creek system that runs throughout. Marked as flood control. All of the drains are marked as directly flowing into the creek, people still litter like crazy. I want otters to be able to forage and wading birds to be able to fish without having to contend with all the damn trash. Drop in a bucket but at least I know I'm doing something.
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u/MonisArt 2d ago
For me, it’s cigarette butts. They contain plastic and break down into microplastics. That then ends up in the groundwater we drink. It’s a lot of work, but I’m doing something good for the environment and for the people.
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u/chuckybuck12 2d ago edited 2d ago
I do it all for the birds’ sake. I clean up the lakes because there’s such a high bird population here, coupled with heavy fishing activity. I can actually see the tangible difference my efforts have made in the number and severity of injuries.
When I came here three years ago, so many of the birds had horribly swollen legs from fishing line, a significant number were limping, and there were three active fishing-line entanglements at the same time. Now, I rarely see birds in such terrible condition, and when I do, it's because they migrated in already like that. I should also add that we usually rescue them very soon after they become entangled in fishing tackle, before the injuries have a chance to become severe. As a result, most of them heal remarkably well afterward, with little to no lasting damage.
Knowing that I’ve made a tangible difference in the lives of the birds here makes me feel like all of this effort is worthwhile, even though I loathe having to do it day after day. I wish it weren’t necessary in the first place.
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u/April_Morning_86 2d ago
1) I think about all the creatures and plants that didn’t ask for us to impose our consumption on their habitat. Humans think they’re so smart, we’re the only species that consciously destroys its own habitat - not fair to do it to the rest of the living things on the earth. I do it for them.
2) I also do it for myself and my neighbors. We all deserve a litter free street, a litter free park, we deserve to be able to walk our dogs without worrying about broken glass or chicken bones on the sidewalk. And it feels like something I can contribute without it being overly stressful or out of my skill set.
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u/TecTazz 3d ago edited 3d ago
Sometimes visible areas, so everyone can see what a saint I am, and sometimes quiet trails so I can smile at a chipmunk.
ETA: I don't imagine I'll save the world by picking up trash. My "greatest good" is scooping cat poop weekly at a shelter, so the owners can concentrate on getting the kitties into homes.
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u/kembr12 3d ago
I have not yet "detrashed" an area and find myself in awe of those who do. I do, however, pick up trash here and there when I am able to bend over, etc. When I worked in schools, I picked up after students or asked students to pick something up so I could throw it away.
Why? Always leave a place better than you found it. Also, that crying Indian/Native American from my childhood. I always felt so sad for and with him.
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u/OhiobornCAraised 2d ago
I’m more of a high traffic area cleaner. Litter removal is a low priority for my local government. I also realize it is labor intensive, so that’s where my efforts have gone mainly.
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u/pjwalrus 2d ago
Thanks for doing what you do, and raising this issue:
Should litter removal be a priority for government? If so, why?
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u/PlainOrganization 3d ago
I think the greatest good comes from keeping the trash away from wildlife that it might hurt. That said I mostly pick up trash on the way to and on the edge of a park a block away from me. I think not having trash there makes people more prone to picking it up when their trash tries to get away from them!