Doubting Thomas -
I've been wanting to write another column about the never-ending problem of litter along our highways for quite some time, but I didn't have anything new to say.
I could've written about how I see more and more litter showing up right in the communities along the coast. I've seen fresh coffee cups in my home of Rose Blanche, Subway wrappers near the Burnt Islands turnoff, and Styrofoam take-out trays blowing through the middle of Isle aux Morts.
Today I saw an empty container of 'Armor-All' brand wet-wipes on the side of the road. It was the perfect example of a tiny minority of drivers who would rather have a clean car than a clean community.
I wanted to complain about all this. More than just complain, I wanted to scream from the rooftops, "Who feels they have the right to just dump trash all over our beautiful coast?"
But without being able to propose a solution, I instead kept my mouth shut.
A news story a few weeks back changed all that. A young girl named Kelsi Fry wrote a letter to Labrador City Council with a great solution to the problem.
She suggested council tax fast food restaurants, and use the money for a litter clean-up campaign.
It's a tax I would be willing to get behind. Might I suggest a full dollar on every paper coffee cup, and three to five dollars on take-out packaging? It's not enough to just tax the establishments. The consumers have to see the cost if such a plan is to work.
More than see the cost, they have to feel the pain in their wallets. You want convenience? Be prepared to pay for it.
It probably sounds absurd and unfair to those businesses in the industry. After all, they're just meeting a demand. (Hey, I'm sipping on a coffee from a paper cup as I write this.)
So how about a deposit instead? It's not a new idea. You bring your container back to the restaurant, and they'll give you your deposit back. Dine in, or bring your own plate/mug, and save the cost of the deposit.
And for every ignoramus still tossing his or her trash out the window, there would be someone keen enough to stop and pick up the free money lying on the side of the road.
Sure it wouldn't address every piece of litter, but it would go a long way towards addressing the worst offenders.
reporter@gulfnews.ca
