It took a trip around the Western Ring Road to kick me back into my blog writing. A whole year since the last one was written; the experience obviously shook me to the core.
It did. To. The. Core.
I do not venture far. I have local clients, local suppliers, shop local, send kids to school local - I deliberately run my business and life that way, makes for an easy-going life. But on circumnavigating Melbourne on that fateful day, I saw that the Western Ring Road (Essendon to Altona - if you’re interested) was essentially the hurricane fencing, holding back the detritus of a landfill we call our city.
Mattresses. Tyres. Plastic packaging. Polystyrene Eskys. Bits of timber. Boxes. Car parts. Some blue stuff. That’s just the big stuff I clocked when doing 100km. There were certainly spots where there was more litter than vegetation. It was EVERYWHERE.
At an on ramp near you….. I coudnt take photo of my view from the car. Hands on the wheel, eyes (kinda) on the road!
How did our society get here? How did we allow our environment to become so choked? When did we all decide that that was acceptable and turned the other way? Said nothing, did nothing, Just stepped over it. Or in this case, drove past.
Aged 11, I sent an entry into a ‘Save the Earth’ poster competition. It showed people drowning in litter. Their own detritus. I think we’re nearly there. Or atleast, as far as I want to go towards that scene. I can’t be alone.
Theres a drowned path under there somewhere. Image Source Pexels.
Working in interiors, you get to meet people who take great pride in their homes. Some more than others. But they all appreciate the importance of a beautiful space and aspire to have it. Millions of dollars are spent every year on interior magazines to fuel this desire. We want clean, organised, bright, light and enjoyable spaces. With greenery!
Eclectic but clean. Kicking litter goals for sure! Image Source Pexels
So if we’re so particular about our interiors, how come we accept such a foul external environment. It’s like we’re living in two separate worlds with two sets of ideals and rules. Inside, nice. Outside, abhorrent. Why don’t we step up and say something to someone. More importantly, why don’t we do something and stop stepping over it?
If businesses think its acceptable to welcome you to their premises with a litter carpet, what does that say about that business? Does it matter if that business is serving you food, or cutting your hair, or selling you flowers? No. For me it speaks volumes about the quality of service you are likely to receive. At the moment businesses are taking advantage of the fact that we are stepping over it with blindfolds on.
Blindfolds and mask on, the only orifice left visable on your head is your ears. Masks = the latest litter problem. Image Source Pexels
That’s why I think litter is a social barometer. The more litter the less respect, responsibility and integrity in the community. More pristine the streets, the more pride and sense of community there is. But there are lights, small little twinkles. But we need to join these twinkles, not discourage them.
In my community a group was recently set up to take care of our newly refurbished park. Millions has been spent on it. It’s beautiful, but every day it gets abused. And everyday volunteers pick up after our society. I’ve heard people call them ‘do gooders’, surmising “that’s what we pay our rates for, it’s the Councils job!”. But is it? Surely its all of our responsibility to pick up after ourselves. I’d even say the state of our environment has got so bad, it’s all our responsibility to pick after ourselves and others.
If the bin’s full, its your responsibility to take your litter home with you! Image Source Pexels
Don’t believe me. Take a drive around the Western Ring Road. If you think, what you see is acceptable, then hats off to you. If you don’t, then do something about it.
Start to be the change. You can start with Clean Up Australia Day - on this weekend at a place near you. I guarantee it. https://www.cleanup.org.au/community
Step up, not over. Image Source Clean Up Australia