In 2016, the National Green Tribunal in its judgment stated that a fine of Rs 10,000 would be imposed on any person or agency, government or private, found throwing garbage in a public place. While efforts have been made to improve solid waste management, despite the judicial intervention, the presence of ‘scrambled garbage’ everywhere shows that the menace of littering is primarily a neo-cultural issue, far beyond the problems of law and civic sense. Can we hope that such issues be tackled by generating a culture of strong values and social responsibility towards keeping the environment clean, not just for today but also for the coming tomorrow.
Only You & I Can Prevent Littering
It is a given fact that no one wants to be surrounded by dirt and garbage. However, everywhere we walk and drive, there is trash. We see trash on the roads, gutters, and pavements, almost everywhere.. We often litter without a second thought. We are so used to it that even if we see a dustbin a few steps away, we still choose to litter our rubbish on the ground rather than disposing of it in the waste bins. In doing so daily, it has become a habit and a part of our lifestyle.
‘CLEANLINESS’ is a social value that we have been learning since we joined school. We practise throwing our garbage in the waste bins in schools but once we step out of the school campus, we don’t bother to be responsible for our garbage. We are encouraged to dump our trash in the bins at homes but never taught to do the same outside. If there is a junk of garbage piled up in a corner, instead of throwing the trash in the dustbin we just litter and add to the junk. ,. We justify ourselves by claiming that since everyone is littering at the particular corner, it is okay for us to litter too. This attitude of complacency adds to the already piled up junk we see everywhere. , people are just too lazy to dump their belongings in the trash cans, leaving them the only option to dump it anywhere.
It is obvious that people are ignorant of the harm they are doing to the environment. They are also unaware of the harmful effects of littering. Littering not only dirties our environment but also has adverse effects on our health. Even throwing a small chewing gum for instance, plays a part in l polluting the environment. Littering contributes to creating an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, insects, and vermin. The flies that visit the garbage are also the same flies that hover around your food and drop their offsprings on your plate. By doing so, they increase the risk of contracting salmonella, which causes typhoid, fever, gastroenteritis and other major illnesses. Besides flies, other animals that thrive on discarded food from garbage bins include rats, cockroaches, and stray dogs.
One of the outcomes of littering is piling up of the garbage at corners on the road, buildings or public transport stations which cause various respiratory diseases and other health issues as contaminants are absorbed from lungs to other parts of the body. In our day-to-day life, we identify the polluted air especially through bad odors, which are usually caused by liquid waste items.
Littering also creates a variety of problems for wildlife. For instance, animals and birds can choke when they mistake plastic for food. Garbage and liquid waste that end up in the water bodies not only change the chemical composition of the water but also have adverse effects on marine life. It affects all the marine life in the water bodies including the fish and other animals that drink the polluted water. For waste collectors, the risk of picking up and handling the garbage includes infections, chronic diseases, and accidents. Direct contact with the waste can result in skin and blood infections through infected wounds, while various illnesses can result from the bites of animals feeding on the waste. Sharp objects lying hidden in the waste also pose a threat to unassuming waste collectors handling them. It is sad that since littering has become a daily activity, it is hard to let go of this old habit. However, it is not too late to correct it. Learning to be responsible for our waste not only keeps our environment healthy and clean but it also contributes to the global environmental health.
Here are some steps that every individual can adopt to keep our environment clean.
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- For starters, never let trash escape from your car.
- Make sure that the garbage bins are sealed tightly to prevent animals from spilling the contents.
- Always remember to take the garbage along with you upon leaving a park, a picnic spot or any public place.
- If you have garbage to dispose off and you cannot find a waste bin nearby, then carry it with you until you find a garbage can.
- Choose to use bags made of cloth over plastic bags so that you don’t end up littering the single-use plastic bags.
Here are some steps that can be adopted at a larger level:
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- Increase trash cans in public places, localities, colonies, markets, etc.
- Educate people on wet and dry waste.
- Educate students on the ill effects of littering and inculcating the habit of dumping their trash in the bins not just in the schools but anywhere they are at.
- Awareness campaigns and advertisements should be carried out to the urban, rural and illiterate sections of the society.
Ultimately, to bring the change we first need to change our ‘I don’t care ‘attitude. It is our responsibility to take care of our land. And this cannot be done without the participation of every individual. It is never too late to resume our good habits again. As citizens and caretakers of this land, we have to educate ourselves and others on the proper ways of disposing waste and keep a close look at the people as well as the government authorities who are responsible for its disposal at the correct time.
Degree of Thought is a weekly community column initiated by Tetso College in partnership with The Morung Express. Degree of Thought will delve into the social, cultural, political and educational issues around us. The views expressed here do not reflect the opinion of the institution. Tetso College is a NAAC Accredited UGC recognised Commerce and Arts College. The editors are Dr Hewasa Lorin, Dr. Aniruddha Babar, Dr. Pfokrelo Kapesa, Rinsit B Sareo, Meren and Kvulo Lorin.
For feedback or comments please email: dot@tetsocollege.org