Published 1/02/02
Written by Frank Carbone Jr.
Many years ago a campaign to alert people to the problems of littering was mounted through the media, in schools and other venues. And I’m sure that many of us remember the TV commercial that depicted an American Indian standing in the outdoors with a lot of garbage blowing around him and then the camera zoomed in to show a tear forming in his eye and rolling down his cheek.
This was picture that was worth a thousand words.
When we buy bottles and cans of soft drinks, beer etc. we all pay a deposit. The deposit law was supposed to cut down on the littering of bottles and cans along our highways and roads -- but in my opinion it hasn’t. I guess some folks can afford to throw away that nickel a can deposit. And some folks supplement their incomes by picking up deposit cans and bottles that others throw away. “Adopt-a-highway” programs also are a great help in picking-up a lot of debris that is thrown out of moving vehicles and deposited on the shoulders of our roads. Kudos to all of the folks and organizations who participate in the “Adopt-a-Highway Programs.” There are also “adopt-an-exit” and “adopt-a-road” programs in existence.
During this past deer season I had the opportunity to walk along a certain county road (#54) and observe some of the debris that is accumulating along the roadside -- debris that is generally thrown out of moving vehicle windows. It appears that it isn’t limited to remote areas. I found cigarette butts (cancer sticks) and packs, soda and beer (cans and bottles), whiskey bottles, papers of all kinds, books, dead animals of all kinds, plastic and metal car parts, tires, construction debris, appliances, audio tapes, plastic and paper bags, fast food cups, containers and plastic shopping bags that get caught in a tree and remain there for what seems like forever.
Plastic bags that end up in the ocean, from mass garbage dumping, can be ingested by marine mammals and fish and usually kills the unsuspecting animal -- they think it is squid or other fish. Scientists often blame bacterial infections for the deaths of many sea mammals. And in recent years the lobster fishermen of Long Island Sound have seen massive kills of lobsters from unknown bacterial infections.
Cigarette butts were at the top of the list for objects found along the county roadside that I walked. I’m sure that many of us have seen a vehicle in front of us going down the road at night and then see the sparks flying when a cigarette is thrown out the window. With the very dry season that we have experienced this year I wonder how many roadside brush fires were caused by cigarettes.
This past hunting season I was shocked to see that a camping vehicle dumped its sanitary holding tank right in a vehicle parking area along county road #54 in the Town of New Windsor. And to those hunters who also defecated in the parking area -- shame on you. Were you too afraid to walk well away from the parking area, into the woods, to answer the call of nature. Other hunters who parked there stepped right in your mess. It's hunters like these who give all a bad name -- they are known as "slob hunters."
Vehicular litterbugs aren’t the only folks who spoil the landscape. We also have the illegal dumpers with larger loads. Construction debris from small construction, roof jobs, carpeting, large appliances etc. This appears to be a problem in many communities throughout our region, state and country. And then there is the illegal dumping and pollution that we can’t see but it affects all of us in one way or another. Usually affecting our health long after the exposure -- even in trace amounts.
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I must commend and give kudos to the ongoing recycling programs and periodic Hazardous Waste Collection Days in Orange County -- especially the operation at the Transfer Station on Route 17K in the Town of Newburgh. This particular operation is managed exceptionally well by a hard working lady by the name of “Millie.” It’s a pleasure to visit “MiIlie’s” recycle station in the Town of Newburgh. Improvements are needed though at the curb pick-up to ensure that all residential garbage pick-up is in compliance with the recycle laws.
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If you witness someone polluting, poaching or violating NYS Environmental Law you can confidentially report the incident to the NYS Tipp Hotline at 1-800-TIPP DEC -- 24 hours a day.
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I’m receiving reports from different hunters that this past deer season was not as successful as projected. The very warm, dry weather conditions and lack of snow may have had a lot to do with it. I’ll report more in a future column. At least one family of hunters who I know -- four brothers and their father -- had their worst season in many years. They only tagged one buck, and no does, between the five hunters. And they reported to me that they weren’t seeing many deer either.
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Have a Safe, Prosperous, Happy New Year !