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Date Published: January 4, 2004
Litter remains a problem for all S.C. residents
Here’s another resolution for everyone as we
begin the new year: Let’s continue the good fight against litter in
our community and state.
By now we’re all familiar with the
lame excuses as to why people litter. Here they are:
1. It’s
somebody else’s problem. If it’s on someone else’s property, it’s
not really littering. Even if it’s on the roadsides that belong to
the people of the state. That makes us all responsible for stopping
littering.
2. Somebody else will pick it up. Haven’t we heard
that one before? The culprits are probably the same folks who toss
trash on the floors of their homes or leave dirty dishes on the
counter. The difference between that and littering in public places
is there’s a hefty fine for tossing trash where it doesn’t
belong.
3. Everybody else is doing it. So who’ll notice? The
trouble with that argument is that more and more South Carolinians
are getting fed up with litter and are beginning to report people
they see littering. And the fine for littering starts at
$465, plus there are some judges who don’t mind serving up some jail
time to offenders.
In spite of vigilant efforts by
organizations such as PalmettoPride, we still have a serious litter
problem in this state. For every step forward, it seems, we take two
steps back. Just look around Sumter County and you’ll see what we’re
talking about. Trash takes on a life of its own, and it never seems
to go away.
PalmettoPride is working on a new plan to
address the problem. It involves attempting to change the behavior
that creates litter. According to PalmettoPride coordinator Rebecca
Barnes, the easiest way to do that is to “make sure the behavior
never starts.” That means getting the anti-litter message into
classrooms, starting with kindergarten. Palmetto Pride has developed
45 lessons for the classroom, hoping it will have a positive impact.
We sincerely hope so, and it will if the schools and parents get
behind this initiative.
Let’s think long and hard about this
litter problem. It costs the state and its taxpayers lots of money
to see that litter is picked up from public roads, parks, highways
and waterways. We’re all paying for it.
Why can’t people
resist defiling Mother Nature? How many walks on the beach have been
ruined by beer and soda cans left in the sand? Or a romantic evening
in the park destroyed by cigarette butts around a bench? Or a
downtown streetscape littered with trash along the
curbs?
Trash is not only an eyesore but it is hazardous. Old
tires become mosquito breeding grounds; discarded fishing lines can
seriously injure birds and fish; plastic bottles, bags and packaging
can pollute our land and water for years to come.
Remember
these numbers: 2.2 million pounds. That’s how much trash was picked
up last year by 21,000 South Carolina volunteers during the Great
American Cleanup. Over 190 illegal dump sites in forests and parks
were cleaned up by these volunteers. Think of how much more
productive their time could be spent on other beneficial projects in
their communities without having to deal with the distractions of
litter.
South Carolina is a prime location for tourists to
visit. We have a beautiful state from the mountains to the sea.
Tourists spend over $6.6 billion in our state every year. But think
of how many will decide their first vacation to the Palmetto State
may be their last after looking at all the litter. And that will
cost us as well with these first-time-is-the-last-time
visitors.
It’s all about pride. We are in this together, and
if we want South Carolina to be the best it can be, we have a big
stake in licking the litter problem.
Let’s keep trying, not
just by teaching the children well but reminding the adults to take
responsibility by setting a good example. That’s a resolution we
should all sign on to.
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February 2, 2004 
