Another Note from Katie

 

Now that the 2007 Facelift has come and gone I'm left to consider what the steps are in preparing for next year and how can we all keep the spirit of taking care of our land going? As ideas start to come to me I'm left with the nagging question of why is there so much trash to pick-up in the first place.

Well, as it may seem obvious (granted sometimes the obvious goes unnoticed) the trash comes from our consumption and throw-away acts. Ideally here at YCA next year we hope to see a decrease in the amount of trash that we pick-up. Eventually it would be a blessing to have absolutely no trash to pick up. But, it seems that at the rate we buy and use and dispose that there will forever be trash. So, I just want to share some thoughts on what we can all do to help decrease the ever increasing trash. Next time you go to the store ask yourself what is it that you really need? How much is necessary to sustain one-self? If we all cut back on how much we buy and consume there would be a huge decrease in the amount that we "throw away." And to dig just a little bit deeper, the idea of a place to throw something away is an illusion. There is no "away," everything we create stays here with us on this earth. Thus, the more we use the more we create the more we have to seemingly throw away therefore the more trash we have to manage and carry around with us. One simple thing to do is to not buy bottled water. Usually your tap water is just as clean if not cleaner than the stuff they sell in the store. End result, no more pesky plastic bottles to deal with. And don't we all own enough plastic bottles already, so why not reuse them?

I say these things not to create feelings of being overwhelmed or to come off as preachy but to stir-up some more conscious thoughts about what we use, how we use it and where will it go afterwards. So, that hopefully come next year and the years following trash won't even be an issue.

Sincerely,

Katie Lambert