LAC LA BICHE - Despite decades of public awareness and enforcement, littering remains an incessant issue, says a local environmentalist.
Julie Hink is a member of the nonprofit organization Healthy Waters Lac La Biche, whose mandate includes lakeshore cleanups and raising public awareness about the harmful impact that trash can have on the environment.
“How bad is it? Well, that all depends on where you go,” she told Lakeand This Week. “As a rule, those parts of the shoreline that experience the most amount of human encroachment tend to have higher levels of garbage.”
Roughly once a month, the members of the Healthy Waters group can be found combing the shorelines of local lakes, as well as bush areas near wetlands and even roadsides. Garbage cleanup is, by definition, a dirty job, but nonetheless one which must be done, says Hink.
Proper gear
Before setting out on a mission to crack down on rubbish, having the right equipment is essential, and the local conservationists always have plenty of garbage bags and gloves on hand, as well as mechanical grabbers since, as Hink explains, much of the nasty debris they encounter should not be touched by human hands – even if gloved.
“While much of what the group picks up on our cleanups are the usual candy wrappers, bottles, and cans, I have found some very interesting — albeit unusual — things out there,” she said. “One time, we can upon a cardboard dwelling near the lakeshore, where a homeless person may have been living. On another occasion, I encountered a beaver sitting on top of a pile of garbage. He refused to move, so I had to wait for him.”
If this unsightly display of disregard for the natural environmental isn’t enough to cause anger and apprehension, what Hink finds even more disturbing is the fact that hidden among this mess are cigarette butts which are often tossed out the windows of passing vehicles.
“With wildfires ravaging large swathes of Alberta and conditions being as dry as they have been, it is incomprehensible – especially after people have been warned repeatedly about such risky behavior – that they would so blatantly toss their cigarette butts onto the ground,” she said, adding that while the amount of litter hasn’t changed drastically, there has been a noticeable increase in cigarettes finding their way onto area beaches and roadsides.
Environmental awareness has been a major component of public education involving groups like Healthy Waters for decades. Nonetheless, for many folks, the message still hasn’t sunk in, she said, explaining that some who toss their garbage onto the ground or in the water may not be doing it to purposely cause harm, rather they truly don’t understand the repercussions their actions have on local wildlife populations.
“Many people are unaware that it can take hundreds of years for many types of garbage – especially plastics – to break down,” she explaining that since littering is already against the law, more enforcement isn’t necessary. The solution, she said is to change the overall mindset of the average citizen. “If every person makes even a small contribution, they can play a significant role in protecting and preserving their natural environment. It requires developing an internal consciousness and always being aware of one’s actions.”
More thought about litter is not only good for the environment, but good for the economy, she adds, tying in financial reasoning to the equation.
“Not only does littering give the environment the appearance of a landfill site, but it also sends a strong message to the outside world that people living in a particular area don’t care,” she said.
The Health Waters Lac La Biche society hosts various displays and presentations across the community throughout the year. The group has a social media page and is always looking for new members.
