By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
The wrapper from a single piece of candy. An empty plastic water bottle. Packaging from the now ubiquitous online shopping delivery. All these things and more represent the literal mountains of trash that Americans generate each year; and in a disposable society, the volume of refuse will continue to steadily increase with no true end in sight. We are, after all, a consumer nation and consumers generate waste in the form of the packaging for all of the things we consume. Whether it is a tin can, plastic wrap, or a cardboard box, all of the no longer necessary ‘delivery systems’ have to go somewhere.
Recycling is a responsible way to attempt to manage the problem, though it is a far from perfect solution. Landfills are another less than perfect solution, but in order for those to fulfill their intended function the refuse – a more pleasant way of saying garbage – needs to be transported to those locations. All too frequently, however, this refuse ends up in ditches, creeks and streams, or even in the corners of our yards until eventually it rots away or washes downstream and out of sight. But even if it washes away or is covered by weeds it is still a problem, even if it becomes someone else’s problem.
“Just driving home its depressing looking at the ditches,” Susan Wilson of Rush said.
The view of littered ditch lines inspired Wilson to take the initiative to begin a cleanup of her hometown with the hope that this will also help inspire people to take pride in where they live. But she also admits that making that change will have to begin with changing the mindset of the area.
“It becomes a habit,” she said. “Just throwing out trash becomes a habit, and then everyone does it. But if we can get together and clean it up, make it (the community) look nicer, then people will be less likely to throw out their garbage.”
Wilson said that the source of the trash littering her community doesn’t have a single culprit, but rather is a combination of some local residents and people who drive through the area. But regardless of the source it needs to be dealt with, Wilson said. With this goal in mind, she has reached out to the Carter County jailer, road department, and magistrates, who she said have offered some assistance. Donations and support so far have allowed her to get dumpsters from Grayson Sanitation to help with the cleanup, but it is an ongoing process. Wilson said that currently she is reaching out to Boyd County for help with the cleanup as well.
Part of the problem with gaining support is due to the fact that Rush essentially straddles two counties, Wilson said, and that can lead to her community being overlooked or forgotten.
“But it really doesn’t matter if the road forks or the creek split,” Wilson said, referring to how one branch of the road is in Boyd County and the other in Carter. “We are all one community.”
Wilson said she is focusing predominantly on the trash that is thrown out in the ditches in her community but said she knows people also have trouble with trash that might be in their yards. The dumpsters are open to anyone in the area who needs them, with the usual restrictions of no tires, batteries, and paint. She said that you can message her on Facebook to get details on where the dumpsters will be located and also how residents and others can volunteer to help with the cleanup.
“We can’t lose pride in our community,” Wilson said. “And maybe if we clean it up then everyone can have that pride again.
Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com