by Malcolm Butler
There is really just one shortcoming when it comes to trash cans.
We actually have to put our trash into them for them to be effective.
Sounds pretty simple. One would think.
As I walked the trails at Cook Park last night, there was a lot of things that made me smile. Kids laughing at the splash pad. The old American basset hound walking his owners. Families enjoying a relatively cool early June evening. And the beautiful sights and sounds of north Louisiana.
And then, there was trash. Trash here. Trash there. Trash, well, it felt like everywhere (although that may be a little over dramatic).
It wasn’t for a lack of trash cans. As I looked around there were big trash cans. Small trash cans. Medium sized trash cans. It seemed like there wasn’t a shortage of garbage receptacles.
We are very fortunate to live in a parish that has so many public parks and trails and lakes and playgrounds. The older I get, the more I appreciate them.
It’s one of the real selling points to our parish. I know it’s something Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker points to anytime he talks about recruiting businesses and families to the 318
Bottom line, our area is a pretty great place to live and to raise a family. So why not do our part in keeping it that way?
Cook Park, like most of the parks in our parish, has picnic tables and pavilions and plenty of places for families and friends to enjoy food and fun. And yes, there are plenty of trash cans.
So why all the trash scattered around?
One pretty simple answer. Laziness and lack of respect.
It takes very little effort to put trash into a trash can. And for the most part, I would say the vast majority of folks do just that. Trash into trash can.
But plenty don’t as proven by paper plates and paper cups and plastic bags and plastic containers scattered about the grounds. It’s one of my pet peeves.
If everyone would just do their part in throwing paper plates and paper cups and plastic bags and plastic container into the trash cans after they are done with them, man it would sure help make our parks and playgrounds and ballparks that much nicer and that much cleaner.
Bottom line is it’s not other people’s job to pick up after us. And it’s really not that hard to respect our surroundings by doing so.
Now, let me go yell at a cloud (and pick up some trash).
