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Pictures of piles of trash in California left by visitors on the eastern branch of the San Gabriel River in the Angeles National Forest were published in the L.A. Times last week. The images of a 4-ton rubbish pile left on the seashore were equally disturbing as these ones. the fourth week of July, in the waters of Lake Tahoe.
Trash in California is typically an issue
Officials from the Angels National Forest claim that a confluence of circumstances has caused unusual damage to the area near the river in the San Gabriel Mountains. A heatwave forced locals to seek out places to cool off, an unusually wet winter has kept the river flowing at an attractive high level, and numerous maintenance tasks remain unfinished (which the Forest Service is working to fill).
“Surprising stories draw attention to a fact that should be obvious to anyone going outside: California has pretty much lost its purpose. How worthless? So much so that in 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom introduced the $1.2 billion “Clean California” programme to make California’s streets cleaner than any before in its history.
According to information released by the Newsom administration in February, Clean California initiatives removed 1.3 million cubic yards of debris from the state’s motorways. This is both amazing and depressing. Public spaces still have a lot of litter.
Examine your surroundings. The drains had been filled with trash. The coastline is contaminated. Garbage bins are leaking water. On the paths of long walks and close to the seats in parks, there is rubbish everywhere. There is broken furniture virtually everywhere. An abandoned sofa was recently found by National Park Service staff members at an isolated fire pit in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Without a doubt, there are many issues that our community is now dealing with, and the largest threat is not necessarily rubbish. But the threat remains. There is little doubt that litter attracts flies and other insects that spread disease and produce more waste. What does the addition of a coffee cup, beer bottle, or candy wrapper mean?
But it also intensifies depressing emotions. How can we avert climate change if we can’t even keep our streets clean?
The good news is that waste is one of the easiest environmental problems to solve, and anybody can do their part by taking easy measures like picking up litter when you see it and not littering. The waste issue may be solved if the forest service officials filled those open posts.
To change this negative tendency, however, we need more responsible employees than those who litter, as evidenced by the governor’s cleanup programme. Waiting for someone else to clean up the trash won’t work because trash is a problem that affects everyone. California would change very rapidly if everyone picked up one piece of trash every day in their neighbourhood, local park, school, or local grocery shop.
At one time, we discovered a piece of trash here. We manage it the same way we manage any other garbage that is comparable.
In the end, California’s waste problem requires quick attention and coordinated action, as seen by recent disturbing instances like rubbish mounds in the San Gabriel River and Lake Tahoe’s waters.
Officials have identified particular factors that they believe are behind the rise in waste, but trash and pollution are issues in many public spaces around the state.
Although Governor Newsom’s “Clean California” campaign is admirable, the amount of trash that has been cleaned off roadways underscores how bad the situation is. In addition to endangering the environment, waste undermines society’s resolve and aspirations to address pressing issues like climate change.
Despite being a simple issue, waste management calls for the cooperation of obedient citizens and capable organisations. Simple actions, such as picking up rubbish and not littering, can help us progressively end destructive behaviour and bring back California’s natural beauty and function.
It’s important to keep in mind that everyone has a role to play in ensuring a clean and sustainable future for our state by finding solutions to the trash problem.
