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It’s just so darn simple and easy for everyone in our community to do...
...have a bag always handy or use one you find right there on the ground, and take a few moments to fill it. It really takes so little effort, and feels good...
What’s the best part, is doing it without anyone else knowing. There’s a certain self satisfaction you get from doing it.
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Agreed! I find at times though, that letting other people see what you're doing can be good too, and can create a greater public awareness that they too, can be helpful.
To this end, at times I intentionally wear orange gloves and wear an orange daypack when I go around picking up what others have left behind. It most always starts a conversation when someone sees me, with questions like "You work for the state?" or "Wow, you found all that here?"
It's a great opportunity to then tell them about organizations like
Leave No Trace,
Tread Lightly, and adventure forums like this one and others that organize cleanups and help spread the word about what I've been calling "low impact land use and responsible recreation."
Now I carry extra "biocompostable" bags, same size as plastic grocery bags, both to use for my own trash gathering and to give out to others when they ask why I'm picking up trash. These bags biodegrade and are recyclable, whereas the typical plastic grocery bag is not.
I buy them in rolls of 100. If anyone wants to try a couple, DM your contact info, mention biocompostable bags, and I'll send you a couple.
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