News-Record.com

Here’s an idea to clean up the littered appearance of our streets and roadways. Since many parents don’t teach their children not to litter (since many of the parents litter profusely and set the example), and since the public schools don’t stress it enough, state lawmakers should enact legislation that requires all fast-food restaurants, consumer products retailers and beverage makers that operate within the state to package their food and beverages in green wrappers, bags, containers or boxes. Cardboard sandwich containers, paper or plastic cups, soda cans, plastic soda bottles, beer cans, beer bottles, cardboard carrying cases — all green. Carry-out bags, drinking straws and lids — green. Cigarette pack wrapping or boxes — green.
The only exception should be cigarettes. They should be made gray to blend in with the concrete or blacktop surfaces commonly found at intersections. Chicken bones seem to blend in, so they’ll be OK, no change required.

This will not solve the problem of littering, but it won’t look as obvious and disgusting as we drive along our streets, highways and neighborhoods.

Edward Rosko
Jamestown