With so many important issues on hand, some might ask why we should care about littering; because it matters, both as an environmental and a social issue.
Efforts to eliminate or at least minimise its effects, even through force of law, have been futile.
It seems that some can’t grasp the concept of a trash can or feel no sense of ownership of public places, with their “not my responsibility” approach.
While a majority of people do know that littering is a bad thing, many continue to carelessly scatter their trash around. As we look around our beautiful country all too often we see a lot of rubbish littering our streets and parks.
A host of problems stem from littering. It attracts more litter, gives an area a run down look, costs the community huge sums of money, blocks drains and kills wildlife. Moreover, it diminishes the pride people have in their environment and results in a culture of disrespect for others and areas shared by all.
Remember everything that goes down a storm drain eventually ends up in the seas and oceans. Understanding the process of bio-accumulation is the first step toward making a difference in your life and the lives of the wildlife sharing our environment.
Changing this common attitude starts with you. Now is the time to act. Remember that you can make a difference by encouraging others to accept responsibility for their actions.
The reader is a sales manager based in Dubai.
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