Page 6 - Everyday Kitsap 2016

ENVIRONMENTAL

Come Clean

When you don’t mean to litter, but you do.

bout half the litter along Kitsap County roadsides is “intentional” litter,
meaning that someone has purposely left their trash behind. The other
half of the remaining litter is the result of “unintentional” or accidental
Alittering coming from unsecured/under-secured vehicle loads, windblown
debris from car windows or pickup truck beds, and other unnoticeable actions.
Picture this scenario: You are walking from the supermarket – hands full with
groceries – and it’s a bit breezy out. Suddenly, the receipt from the purchase flies
out of the bag in your arms. Whether you noticed it or not, do you go back and get
the windblown receipt? Can you even recover it before it blows farther than you can
chase it down? If you answered no, you might be guilty of unintentional littering.
Here’s another one: Have you ever released a helium balloon in the air –
accidentally or on purpose? Eventually that balloon is coming down. Who knows
where? But just like the mythical Icarus, it’s coming back down to earth, more than
likely to rest in a tree or waterway. In both instances, the results are unsightly and
can cause environmental harm.
We are all likely guilty of unintentional litter. Everything seems to come in some
sort of packaging these days and, sometimes, that extra “stuff” can just leave our
grasp. Even with the best intentions, accidental litter can become a part of even
the staunchest of anti-litterbugs’ lives. Here are steps you can take to reduce
the amount of rogue straw wrappers and fugitive plastic bags, and prevent
unintentional litter:

• Secure your load: Taking a spring cleaning load to the transfer station?
Helping a friend move? Hauling landscape material like bark, compost,
or lumber? Tie it down and cover it! Use sturdy ratcheting tie-downs,
heavy rope, or chain and cover loads of aggregate, soil, and other loose
material with a tarp. Once properly secured, items in the vehicle should not
move. If something flies out of your vehicle you can be fined, and held liable for
property damage or bodily harm to other motorists.

• Hold on to that balloon: Let’s cancel the big balloon release at the next birthday
party or family gathering. Helium balloons may eventually leave your sight, but
they do continue to float and exist after you can’t see them. They will eventually
fall to earth and cause problems for someone else – most likely sea life.
• Bag it: Straw wrappers, gum wrappers, and other debris filling up that side
compartment in your car door? Opt for a litterbag somewhere in the vehicle
instead. Opening that car door might be just enough to blow some of that
material out. Be sure to keep litter inside your vehicle and properly dispose of
it in a refuse container frequently. As we enter the warm weather months, be
sure that loose debris is secured in your car. Driving with the windows down can
create turbulence and an exit point for any loose debris in your vehicle.
• Keep the bed clean: Speaking of turbulence, it’s a bit windy in the bed of an
uncovered pickup truck. Loose debris is sure to fly out when left back there.
Don’t use the bed of a pickup as a waste depository and be sure to sweep the
bed when unloading aggregates, soil, or any other loose debris.

pg 6 | Spring 2016 | KitsapGov.com