Trash at Parks - What can we do about it?

Written by: Tanya Mark

Have you ever been walking or biking to a park and seen trash? The chances are you have. This is because many people drop trash or leave their trash behind during parties in the park, outdoor movies, hiking, etc.

Recently, while I was hiking, I noticed a shopping cart and coconuts that were thrown into a stream. I also noticed paper, cans, plastic bottles, and other trash on the side of the trail.

Not only is this gross and unsanitary, but it also harms the environment. For example, throwing banana peels on the ground to decompose can take up to 2 years to decompose and is also a tripping hazard to other people.

To prevent this, we follow “leave no trace”. Some other things that we can do as a troop are:

• bring a bag to pick up trash during outings

• doing a sweep after every break while hiking

• volunteering at park cleanups and other events

• if you see a shopping cart, call the store or the number on the cart so they can pick it up

YIS, Tanya Mark