Over the past decades, littering has become a growing problem. It not only is an absolute eyesore when driving down the road, it also impacts the wildlife and the animals. Plastics do not degrade or break down meaning they have no where to go if not disposed of properly, leaving them to go where the wind takes them possibly ending up around a poor fish's neck or in a birds nest. Litter ends up in our freshwater supply and in our soil. meaning there is garbage in our drinking water.
In 2009 the Clean Virginia Waterways conducted a study on the affect of litter in the water and water fleas. 80% of the water fleas died off because of the one cigarette butt thrown in the water.(Hampton Township)
There are many easy ways to get rid of the need to throw your trash out on the street. One could keep a plastic bag in your car for trash. Put lids on trash cans so the garbage does not fly out. If you are a cigarette smoker make sure to have an ashtray wherever you are to not litter the butts.
There are many ways to maintain environmental sustainability and do our part to keep our earth clean and healthy.
1. Recycle.
A good amount of our trash that ends up in our lands and body of water are things that we can recycle.
2. Water filter systems
A water filtration system is a good initial investment instead of buying water bottles every week. Water is something almost everyone has in their home basically for free, bottled water is senseless when we have what we want right in our homes. Plus there will not be as much plastic going into our waste systems.
3. Reusable bags.
When shopping, it would be helpful for people to have their own canvas bags instead of using plastic ones at the store to reduce plastic waste that could potentially end up in our land or water systems.
Mankind has littered, and littered, and littered. So much now that our trash has become actual landmasses. While we think that our cups and other litter just stays there or disappears into thin air, it does not. Wind or rain usually take trash on a long journey to rivers lakes and oceans. Bodies of water all have currents and the currents pushed our trash together. Forming a gigantic island that is three times the size of France, made completely out of newspaper cups and various other things thrown from peoples cars. 
This is the trash island from a satellite's perspective. Notice the tiny speck, that is Hawaii, and the gigantic circled island, is garbage all garbage.
Not only is it making the roads, cities, streets, and everywhere else in between an eyesore. Littering is a crime, this dirty crime can get you a misdemeanor charge, 500$ in fines, and up to a year in jail in Michigan. These charges would show up on your record and then anywhere you apply for a job, they know you are a litterbug along with a criminal. All for throwing trash on the ground. So please ask yourself, is the Mcdonald's cup on your floor really upsetting you so much you have to throw it out right then and there?
The seal stuck with a net around its neck.
There are many organizations that pride themselves with keeping the river they live on or near clean. These people will host events called River Clean-Ups. Usually they are once a year and it is found on social media for their page when and where it is happening. Anyone is welcome to these as I did this as a 7 year old kid.
https://hampton.gov/958/Keep-America-Beautiful-Litter-Research
https://hampton.gov/DocumentCenter/View/308/litter-factsheet-costs?bidId=
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/great-pacific-garbage-patch
Swimming in Plastic — DIG MAG (digmaglb.com)
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