I am disgusted and disappointed to notice copious amounts of litter on the streets in my neighborhood. Specifically, I am referring to 700 East in Midvale between Ft. Union Blvd. and 6400 South. I frequently walk along 700 East and find cans, bottles, food wrappers, piles of neglected dog poop, bags with dog poop, cigarette butts and empty cigarette packs, pieces of metal, plastic fragments, plastic bags, and more. Much of the debris is stuck in the bushes. This is a description of one small area, but litter is common almost everywhere. Salt Lake City used to be lauded as a clean city. What has happened to common decency and community pride?
There are littering laws, but how often do we hear of someone being caught and fined? 24/7 police observation would be necessary to catch most litterers in the act. An appalling 75% of people admit they have littered in the past five years. Last year in the U.S., taxpayers spent over $11 billion cleaning up litter, which is 10 times more than the cost of trash disposal. Aside from being an eyesore, litter can be a breeding ground for flies, rats, roaches, and disease. It also affects property values.
While on walks, I am willing to put on rubber gloves and fill a large garbage bag, and I have done so. Recently I learned that the Department of Transportation (UDOT) is responsible for taking care of my neighborhood. No doubt the department is overloaded with work. Why should UDOT even need to pick up litter for citizens that are capable of properly discarding it on their own?
Jill Tea Smith, Midvale
from The Salt Lake Tribune https://ift.tt/7vLFExr
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