Your carelessness is taking lives
Penalties can deter littering but people also need to be educated about the impact of their actions on the ecosystem
I was driving along Al Aweer road in Dubai when I saw a herd of camels on the side of the road. I noticed one camel chewing on a plastic bottle and another munching a plastic bag.
I have come across similar scenes many times and I feel bad for the camels because human error is the cause of their downfall. Most people who travel on this road see the desert landscape and don't think twice about throwing their trash on the side of the road. Perhaps they think it is biodegradeable.
A fine for littering is one way of putting a stop to this problem but, more importantly, people need to be educated regarding the effect of their littering. A campaign to educate people about proper recycling practices should also be launched. It is high time manufacturers of plastic containers or water suppliers place labels on the bottles that remind people how to properly dispose of such plastics.
— This reader is an engineer,based in Dubai
