Citizens should show their pride by not littering

Editor:

As a member of the Columbia County Youth Leadership Program, I participate in the Adopt-A-Highway Cleanup of a portion Columbia Road. During a recent cleanup I was appalled at the amount of litter that had collected in our particular area over the course of the month. Not only were there restaurant cups, plastic bottles, and cigarette butts, but we also picked up dirty diapers and socks that individuals had carelessly thrown out of their windows.

Residents of Columbia County are lucky to have such a beautiful, clean place to live. However, we commonly take for granted how great we have it. All of us are guilty of throwing something out at one time or another, but its gone too far. Our group averages about 10-12 volunteers at each cleanup, and its a shame when each of those people come back with bags so full of trash that they almost break. As a young citizen of this great county, I want to enjoy the beauty and cleanliness that older residents have enjoyed!

We can keep our cigarettes in ash trays and our cups and bottles in a small trash bag that we can empty when we reach home. Simple actions like these can help to ensure that our county continues to be the beautiful place that it should be. Lets all make a concerted effort to maintain the pride and loveliness of our county by decreasing the litter.

//

Natalie Pippin

Evans