I, like many of my fellow Alaskans, sense a tardiness in the arrival of summer. Fear not: I have identified an absolute sign that summer is coming. Unfortunately, that sign is the presence of generously discarded trash along roadsides, walkways, paths and trails.
The greatest accumulations appear to be along roadsides and turnouts. I am guessing this allows the rogue disposers to deposit the trash in a drive-by manner. Being a habitual trash-recovery individual, I have been offered the luxury of assessing the form and content of the trash tossed along our byways.
At least half of the trash is recyclable. The high recyclable content is based on the fact that much of the trash I have picked up is either a bottle or can that formerly contained an alcoholic liquid. Much of the trash cast aside is neatly packaged, whether it be a diaper, fast food containers or a larger plastic trash bag containing the waste contents from a few days of rest and recreation. Folks do take the time and effort to package their waste — before taking the time and effort to share it with the rest of us.
I have never understood why people take the time and energy to cast their trash aside rather than properly disposing it. This is especially vexing when I assume, maybe incorrectly, that most people casting their trash aside probably enjoy the natural beauty of the areas they are spoiling.
— Jon Stewart
Palmer