... and let someone else to pick it up.

Contribution for Fridays for Future

My mother used to say: "Pick a litter a day to save the world!" I have been too lazy to follow her footsteps, but it is never too late to at least try. In the urban area there are supposed to be some cleaning done by various operators (city or hired companies). But especially in winter the less used streets and sideways become littered and untidy for weeks or even for months.

Sometimes it looks like littering is a phenomena of local culture. For example in 1990s I noticed that in the city of San Sebastian in Spain, streets were very tidy. Most likely because San Sebastian is a famous tourist destination. But the streets of A Coruña on the other hand were very untidy, even when there were plenty of trash cans around. I am not sure what the reason for that was. Maybe it is caused by the feeling of being "neglected", and therefore reflecting it into the personal behavior and even to local culture. Lack of money and economic support may turn people to stop caring about their environment.

Tampere, Finland is a former factory town, slowly trying to become as a popular tourist destination and center of business. But local people does not seem to embrace that thought yet. They (we) seem to think it is alright to toss litter on the streets, and let someone else to take care of it. It is of course irresponsible and even lazy behavior. But what to do to change that? I suppose the best thing is to make noise and try to "educate" people. Although, I personally rather use the word "inform". If people are informed on what is going on around them, they may start to care:

"Sure, picking up a few pieces of litter might seem nearly inconsequential when you think about the big picture. But here’s the thing—it feels tangible. Immediate. It’s something I can do every day, and something that can inspire others to perhaps view their immediate environment a little differently. To give back. To care. And ultimately, to feel just a little less overwhelmed."
-Shawnte Salabert: Here’s Why I Pick Up Other People’s Litter—And Why You Should, Too