Litter is Everyone's Responsibility!

Now that the snow has melted in Fisherville, I am amazed at how much trash is lining the roads and creeks. Taylorsville Road is particularly littered on both sides of the road as you come down the hill into the watershed. Just today, I picked up an entire garbage bag of litter from a half mile stretch of Bradbe Road. For those of you unaware, littering in Louisville is illegal and is punishable by a $500 fine and/or up to a year in jail.

Where Does All That Trash Come From
While a lot of the trash is thrown deliberately from vehicles, particularly cigarette cartons and butts, most of the trash found on the roadside comes from other sources. Here are the leading contributors of litter:

- Poorly secured cargo in truck beds and trailers.
- Trash bins and dumpsters that are overfilled and/or not secured from weather and animals
- Garbage and Recycling Trucks
- Construction sites that don't cover trash heaps
- Deliberate throwing by pedestrians, drivers, cyclists, runners, etc
- Lightweight items that blow out of vehicles when windows are down
- Landfills and Dumps
- Poorly maintained vehicles

Please note that trash travels. While you might not think that dumpster at McDonalds will effect you, trash can easily be blown, carried, or floated from that dumpster many, many miles. Also, you may say you don't put trash in the bed of your truck, but that doesn't mean someone else hasn't tossed something in there when you were in the store.

What Can You Do to Prevent Litter

Litter is more than just an eyesore. It is dangerous to wildlife, vehicles, people, storm drainage systems, and water. It is also dangerous and costly for the persons who choose to clean it up, whether they are paid or volunteers. Collecting litter on busy roads is not safe, but someone has to do it.

Luckily, there are many things that each of us can do to prevent litter. I moved to Fisherville to appreciate the open space and natural beauty and I plan to do my part to preserve that. I hope that all of you will as well. Here are some strategies for everyone to take to help keep Fisherville clean:

- Put trash where it belongs. Wherever you are, hold all trash until it can be put in a trash receptacle. If the bin is full, please report it to the owner so that they can clean it out. Do not throw it onto the ground! Have some pride and ownership in your community and respect for your fellow neighbors.
- Be sure to use appropriate methods for disposing of hazardous waste. See the Louisville Metro website for information on how to do so.
- Reduce and recyle your waste. Clearly the less waste that we produce, the less waste is available to litter the area. Buy reusable bottles instead of buying plastic bottles. If you don't recycle already, take steps to get started. There is a lot of information available online on how to recycle.
- Secure all of your trash. When placing waste out for collection, be sure that lids are closed and the bin is not vulnerable to animals or wind. Cover trash heaps with a tarp and tie it down. Cover debris in your truck bed with a tarp or tie down. Always check that someone has not tossed loose trash into your truck bed or placed flyers on your car before driving.
- If you smoke, place butts in an ashtray and do not throw them to the street. Cigarettes contain toxic chemicals that can contaminate water systems and poison aquatic life. While you choose to partake in toxic substances, do you part to keep those toxins out of the environment. Better yet, isn't it time to stop smoking?
- If you see garbage falling from a business vehicle, including garbage and recycling collection trucks, contact the business and make them aware.
- Carry a litterbag in your vehicle for trash so you don't feel the need to toss it out the window.
- If you use a dumpster at your work or job site, assure that it is closed and secure at all times.
- Report a Litterer - Call Louisville's MetroCall at 311 or 574-5000 with license plate and vehicle description. The person will receive a vehicle litter bag and a reminder of the law.
- Organize a cleanup effort or volunteer to participate in one of Brightside's events. Get your neighbors involved and sweep the area weekly or monthly to help keep the roads, water ways, and drains clear. Brightside will even provide materials for a community event.
- Have you business or community Adopt-A-Mile.
- If you run a business, be sure to provide adequate trash bins and ash trays for your employees and customers.
- Do not drive vehicles with loose parts that can fall off during transit. This is dangerous to you and others on the road.
- Do not place signs in right-a-ways or on utility poles. This is considered littering as it is illegal in most circumstances. Also, during mowing season these signs often end up chopped into pieces and blown all over the road.

The most important thing you can do is to set an example. If you see trash, don't just step over it, pick it up and throw it away. Educate your neighbors on proper ways to secure their waste. Remind your friends to not toss that cigarette butt or Coke can onto the ground. Please use caution when collecting trash - use gloves and wear bright clothes especially if you are in a high traffic area.

While many believe that the local governments should worry about trash, the fact of the matter is they can't possibly keep up with it and will not get to it in a timely fashion. In some cases, they may never get to it. Therefore, it is ultimately our responsibility to keep our corner of the city clean by preventing litter and cleaning up what is already there.

For more information on litter and prevention, please visit the following websites:
- Report a Litterer
- Cigarette Litter
- Keep America Beautiful
- Louisville - Recycling Guide
- Louisville Solid Waste Disposal
- Adopt-A-Mile

Check out these nice recycling bins on Amazon: