There is something so refreshing about spending time in the outdoors, especially during a beautiful Laramie summer. Whether you’re taking a stroll in the park or hiking in Vedauwoo, exploring nature is a great way to relieve stress and enjoy yourself.
Since many members of the community will likely utilize outdoor spaces in Laramie during the summer, I wanted to address a fundamental topic – keeping these areas clean and litter-free. It’s important to recognize that these places are shared with others and should be taken care of accordingly.
The widespread use of plastic and other disposable items has led to massive amounts of trash in America.
According to the National Parks Foundation, about 260 million tons of trash are generated in the United States each year. Only about one quarter of this trash is recycled and the rest is placed in landfills or burned. That’s a lot of waste!
Unfortunately, large amounts of this trash end up in places that are harmful to the environment. In 2020, a nonprofit organization called Keep America Beautiful conducted the largest study on litter in the country.
The study found that 90% of people who were surveyed felt that litter is a problem in their state, and nearly 50 billion pieces of litter can be found along American roadways and waterways.
Although these statistics are upsetting, there are ways that we can work to keep our community litter-free.
If you are planning to bring disposable items with you in the outdoors, make sure to discard all pieces of trash. It’s helpful to bring a bag to carry everything, especially if you are with a bigger group.
Cutting down on the use of plastic items is another great way to keep the environment clean. Purchasing reusable items reduces amounts of waste, and using recyclable items decrease the large quantities of trash that are dumped in landfills.
If you haven’t done so yet, I recommend investing in a reusable water bottle this summer to cut back on those pesky plastic bottles.
Cleaning up after spending a day at the park is truly not a difficult task. Throwing trash away only takes a number of seconds, and Mother Nature will thank you. Not to mention, littering is classified as a misdemeanor in Wyoming that is punishable with imprisonment for up to 6 months and a fine of up to $750!
Laramie wouldn’t be the wonderful place that it is without all of its beautiful areas for outdoor recreation. This summer, it’s important to remember that we all share these spaces and we need to care for them properly. Throwing away all trash and investing in reusable items are great places to start.
