Hi there, friends!
Now that the weather is perfect and beautiful outside, I have been taking a lot more runs and walks around my neighborhood and surrounding forestry. I love the heat, so this is my peak time throughout the year!
Unfortunately, as I run, I see something that even by neighborhood with a strict homeowner’s association cannot solve: floating trash, debris, and plastic. On my run today, I picked up a few more pieces of trash, just after having ran about two days ago in the same locations as before.
I do not think that some people intentionally let trash go around our neighborhood, as some of these things may have fallen out of trash bins and escaped from houses; however, even in the isolated trail that expands a few miles away from my neighborhood and into a deep forest, I see a ton of debris floating around. Most of it looks as though it has stayed there for a while, hiding underneath rocks and plants.
Thus, I decided to change my run to one that not only gives me a breath of fresh air but one that also gives me the opportunity to do something for my community: I have started picking up the bits of trash that I can.
Let’s get to it!
Elevate your running
I see a floating plastic bag or wrapper on the sidewalk. There is no trash can nearby and I am on the beginning part of my run. Nonetheless, I want to pick it up. What do I do? Below, I list the ways that I typically clean up the trash in a way that I do not have to stop my run or carry trash with me as I run.
I want to stress for you to use your best judgment when picking up trash. If you think that it may be hazardous, please do not pick it up. Further down this post, I will address how to report this trash. It just happened to me today!
I want to stress for you to use your best judgment when picking up trash. If you think that it may be hazardous, please do not pick it up. Further down this post, I will address how to report this trash.
Here are some simple and awesome options to safely pick up trash on your run, walk, or stroll:
- If you are returning to the same place on your way back, you can leave the trash there and pick it up afterwards. Just make a mental note! If you see a plastic bag that can easily float away, place underneath something that will keep it sturdy, like a rock. This way, you can grab it coming back.
- Pick up the debris and carry it with you as you run until you can place it in a nearby trash can or recycling bin.
- Place the trash in someone’s trash can or recycling bin if you are around a neighborhood.
Be safe.
Don’t compromise your well-being and health when you pick up trash. Some pieces of debris and plastic can be flammable, explosive, or carry bad chemicals and other like things. Instead of picking these up, report them. If you see the trash in your own neighborhood, you can tell someone who lives nearby it. If your neighborhood has a homeowner’s association, you can also notify them about it.
If you feel that you repeatedly witness a violation of environment around you, such as the use of an illegal pesticide, a company that has left their debris there without picking it up, or an individual that continues to litter, you can take action through the recommendations created by the EPA. This link will direct you towards the different steps you can take to alert these individuals and stop it.
Run your best. Do your best. Take care of the earth the best.
While cleaning up after other people’s mess is bothersome and quite upsetting, the greater purpose is to reduce the amount of pollution going into our environment. When we witness a wrongdoing, we cannot bystanders; we should try to correct this. Repeatedly seeing trash, especially in spots that have been picked up over and over again, signals the sign that people need a reminder to pick up their trash and understand the consequences if they do not.
When we witness a wrongdoing, we cannot bystanders; we should try to correct this.
Remember that any small action will have big repercussions. Do not be discouraged should nothing feel accomplished to you. Keep persisting and know that you are doing the right thing.
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Thank you for reading! I hope you have a great week. Talk to you soon! Let me know in the comments below if you take any unconventional steps towards helping out the environment.
Much love,
Victoria 🙂
Quote of the post:
“The wisest men follow their own course.” -Euripides
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