TRASH: Let’s all address the mess

Christine…thank you for bringing the problem of litter to the forefront of our collective consciousness.

Yes, every winter, trash accumulates due to the buildup of snow. In the spring, the Kootenai Co. Sheriff’s Community Service Work Program cleans the highway between Coeur d’Alene and the Washington state line. They do a fairly good job of it, yet the problem is bigger than that.

Pickup trucks and other vehicles’ occupants allow or throw out trash as they drive on the byways. And, if that is not enough to worry about, walking our may scenic trails, Tubbs Hill, Mineral Ridge, Canfield Mountain, just to name a few, also get their share of inconsiderate people who spit out their gum, leave cigarette butts, all forms of drink containers, dog feces, along these paths for others to pick up…

And, I have the experience to state emphatically that I collect a garbage can full of trash every time I go fishing on our scenic rivers in North Idaho, too.

AND IT’S NOT JUST TOURISTS…IT’S THE LOCALS AS WELL.

Yes, being more aware of how each of us impacts our surroundings will make it better for others who want to enjoy the beauty that surrounds us.

IF YOU TAKE IT IN…CARRY IT OUT…IF YOU FIND IT ON THE GROUND, IN THE RIVER, ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD…PICK IT UP…DO YOUR PART…

RALPH D. SHAY

Coeur d’Alene