Admit it. When the sun is out and you are at your favorite campsite or cottage on the lake, the last thing you want to do is a lot of time cooking a meal. Often, when vacationing, the lure to purchase instant foods strong. Unfortunately, these convenience foods often come over packaged usually including some type of plastic. we can see when we come across trash in the wilderness, the plastics tend to linger the longest – other than maybe glass and metal. Nothing ruins the feel of a pristine, natural area than a bunch of garbage. Numerous studies prove that tourists return to an area primarily for its cleanliness and greenery. In this era where the economy come to rely more on tourism, cleaning up is truly a benefit for the community.

We soon realized that walking by these messes and complaining over such disrespect, we were behaving much better than the polluters who left it. Now when we hike pack a supply of plastic bags (grocery bags work well) to clean up as we go. We often earn to $10 in returnable bottles and cans in the process. When you take a bit of time to clean up some trash not only you have a better trail or beach to come back , you have helped to it safer and nicer for the next user. This simple measure just might influence others to keep it clean, as well.

feels very good to clear up a beach of shards of broken glass hiding just below the surface before an unwary swimmer splashes into it. It does not, , feel as good to find a large fish hook by imbedding it in the bottom of your foot. Take heart in knowing you have done a good thing as your expletive echoes off the far mountainside. Imagine innocent child stepping on that hook of you and decide if it is worth taking the time…

adapted from an article by Lillian Brummet