leaving rubbish

I detest litter. I cannot see how people can leave their own mess lying about its often picnic and take away stuff. One of the problems of paying people to pick up litter though, is that it makes those lazy people who drop it even more inclined to think Oh well! Someone else is paid to pick it up.

Brain wash children in primary schools to influence their parents never to do it. Though that sounds a bit too much like tactics out of the chinese Cultural Revolution. Hey what a good idea it might just work!

As a young child I was on a day out with the school, we sat on the grass to eat the packed lunch we had been given. Encouraged by the friend I was sitting with we left the paper bags in the grass. This was noticed by the teacher who asked everyone on the coach to show her the bags. Of course, we couldn't. We received the most severe telling off I have ever experienced and I have never since dropped litter. (Today the teacher would probably be sued for causing mental anguish!)

I have the same litter problem, living at the edge of a lovely park, where visitors cut through the trees and walk through from my lane. As soon as there is an event or a sunny day, the litter increases a hundred-fold. Magpies pick up junk food and fly into my garden to dunk chips, Doritos, slices of bread and any discarded food they find, in my bird bath. There are junk food cartons, cans and cigarette packs left behind on the lane, which my dog goes for like a guided missile. By Wednesday, I'll be firing off yet another email complaining that, yet again, litter pickers have forgotten that they are supposed to pick up park litter every Tuesday. My bin gets full of the stuff.

Slobs do it, sunseeker. Utter slobs.

I see it as community repsonsibility in practice.

Going round the supermarket yesterday came across a piece of chewing gum stuck onto a packet of biscuits . When I pointed it out to one of the assistants she said it didn't surprise her as they are always finding rubbish left on shelves - who does that?

I like that story too, gknot. Would that there were more like him. In effect, he is doing what I suggest.

If businesses were responsible for the clean-up of the areas around their premises, they would effectively have to employ people to do the cleaning up. It might be part of a whole job description, such as wiping down tables, sweeping the floor, etc.

In gknot's example above it is the manager himself who does the necessary work. Good for him to regard it as part of his job. Five stars from me.

That is a lovely story Grannyknot.
How about more people on community service orders doing litter pick ups too?

Bags that's a good idea, re business looking after their own space, and it was implemented for the Olympics, so not sure why it couldn't just be kept up. I'm not sure whether I agree that more litter pickers should be employed. I've already more than once heard it expressed 'That's what litter pickers are for' when there's a grumble about littering.

Here's a lovely story with a litter theme: I walk through a park on the way to work in the morning (in London). There's a Jamaican man who runs a chicken-and-rice food stall there. When I walk through there early in the morning, he is already set up, ready for the day, and goes about the park picking up litter and cleaning the entire area (it's not a very big park), his dreadlocks bobbing and swinging as he works. Done with the litter, he delivers coffee from his stall to the small group of homeless people who sleep in the far corner. I've stopped him and told him what a shining example of community excellence he is.

That should be cafés at reservoirs.

As well as advertisments, we need to employ more litter-pickers. If we regarded them as essential as, say, office-cleaners, the problem wouldn't be solved, but the litter would be picked up. I think businesses who open public amenities (e.g. ice-cream shops and cafés at restaurants; David Lloyd gyms) should have something in their contract with the local council that says they have to clean up the mess their customers leave. And they should be heavily fined if they don't do it.

Draconian perhaps but effective not only at removing litter but also at getting the message across.

Total agreement from me as well Seasider. I have also often wondered about bringing back those (patronising) public service adverts Aka mentions. We are lucky enough to have 3 huge reservoirs locally, fabulous to walk around. I'm a daily visitor to one or sometimes 2 with my dogs who love to swim. I love the changing seasons, the deer and birdlife. Recently it's been difficult to make sure the dogs don't disturb the ducks/heron with their young. But - this warm weather will bring out scores of folks with plastic bags full of bread to feed the ducks with. At the smaller reservoir there is a small cafe selling food and ice creams. There are also picnic tables, and that will be the reservoir most effected by litter. Groups of young folks will be diving off the bridge to swim - I know it's illegal, but I'm more bothered by the litter they'll leave. Beer cans/bottles etc, and the family picnickers often leave copious amounts of litter around the tables which are dotted around the reservoir. I don't know who they expect to clear up after them, but increasingly it's the dog walking community who go out armed with plastic bags and tidy up as we go. Maybe it is time to have some of the public service notices on the tv about litter

Do you remember the public adverts that used to be on TV, such as 'Take Your Litter Home with You' or 'Don't be. Litter Lout'. I think there is a case for bringing these back as there's a whole section of society that seems not to have got the message.
When I go to visit my relatives in Sweden I notice how clean and litter-free it is.

I used to belong to a david lloyd gym. nice purpose built building. Membership not cheap. Area of ground just outside it covered in chewing gum.
Do they do that on their own front path?

Shocking , seasider. It also apalls me that cigarette ends and chewing gum are not considered by some to be litter.
#anddontstartmeondogpoo