California's Garbage Issue

2021-02-09T11:31:00.008-08:00

To Much Trash

Dear Californian Officials, residents, and visitors,

I have recently visited your state to have a great time in the ocean and enjoy walking the streets, but I was saddened by what I had discovered. Upon my arrival, I noticed a mass amount of rubbish everywhere. There was garbage overflowing out of trash cans, trash on the side of the road, and trash in the ocean. I was very disappointed to see the trash in the ocean especially because our oceans are extraordinary and delicate. Seeing all this garbage got me to wondering why there is so much everywhere.

California as a state brings in $143 billion in taxes every year, so why are the streets and oceans so filthy? It’s simple, government officials and residents aren’t doing enough. California officials need to do a better job because in the state of California over 750,000 pounds of trash was found in their waterways which leads straight to the ocean. Fish eat plastic that is in the ocean which causes a few different problems. Their stomach becomes full of bad toxins, Less active and reduced schooling behavior, and compromised liver function. All this trash in the water is horrible because we eat the fish with toxins and different behavior may change an ecosystem’s way of functioning. This doesn’t even consider how much there is on land.

What To Do

There are a few things the state can do with all their tax money to keep California clean. More trash cans, more frequent garbage runs, and more sanitation programs. I mentioned before, the was trash overflowing out of every garbage can I saw and sometimes I had to walk far to find one. Not only were they overflowing, but there was also trash on the top of the bin and around it on the ground. If there were more trash cans and frequent garbage runs, California would be able to keep the bins low and have control over this problem. Doing this would also create more jobs in the state which would decrease unemployment rates. California can also put more money towards effective and efficient sanitation programs for trash that is already in the water, on the ground, and alongside roads. I am not talking about nonprofit organizations; I am talking about legitimate programs and organizations that pay the working man to clean the oceans and streets. You will get more workers/employees to help clean up the state and the state's oceans than you would at a nonprofit.

The Ugly Truth

As unfortunate as it is, people simply don’t want to volunteer their time to clean their homes. Californians and visitors alike can also help to fix this problem by throwing your trash away in a garbage can. Many people are ticketed in the state for littering and those are just the people who get caught doing it. Not only are plastics and wrappers the problem but furniture and appliances as well. People intentionally dump old couches and mattresses on the side of the highway to get rid of them. Not only does California’s government needs to do better but the people need to as well. Lastly, California already has a decent system with plastic grocery bags which is, bring your own bags or pay ten cents a bag, but what about the people who don’t mind the ten cents. California has many wealthy people which means ten cents is obviously nothing to them and what about the everyday shoppers who forget to bring their grocery bags from home and pay for plastic bags. California should ultimately ban plastic bags in grocery stores and use paper bags as well as continue to encourage people to bring their own. Paper bags are healthier for the environment. This would also reduce the number of plastic bags that end up on the streets and in the ocean.

Carrying out these suggestions would help the environment tremendously. All the garbage in the water is harming the ocean’s ecosystem and wildlife along with garbage on the land and the wildlife that lives among us. Many birds are seen tearing through people’s trash eating items they shouldn’t be eating. This is a massive problem in California that is recognized but not acted upon enough. Please take into consideration the suggestions I have mentioned as a person who experienced this firsthand. Help the state before it’s too late!

Sincerely,

James Jensen

LA Times

California's Garbage Issue

To Much Trash

What To Do

The Ugly Truth