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Stop turning Southern Illinois into a landfill

Thursday, April 3, 2008 10:49 PM CDT

I've bit my lip until it's shredded.

I've told myself, let it go. Don't go there again.

Despite all those good intentions, I can't let it go. I've got to say it still one more time.

Why must we turn Southern Illinois into a river-to-river landfill?

Seeing all the debris floating in the flood waters during the past week just brought my blood to a boil.

Come on people, just quit it.

We've turned this beautiful landscape into a mess.

Is there an uglier place in Southern Illinois than westbound Route 13 heading into Carbondale? Last week flood waters flushed the roadsides and creek beds of foam and paper cups.

With the flood waters receding the cups have formed a disgusting carpet in the woods and fields adjacent to Route 13. It's a truly repugnant sight.

For anyone entering Carbondale for the first time, it certainly creates an awful first impression.

While that stretch of Route 13 might be the worst, it is hardly the only litter-strewn area of Southern Illinois. Discarded plastic bags are as plentiful as wildflowers along our roadways.

Plastic drink bottles seem to sprout along the highway like mushrooms after a spring rain.

The saddest thing, it's totally unnecessary.

This is a problem that is easily solved.

The litter won't go away by itself. However, we could quit adding to the problem.

How hard would it be for each and every one of us to roll up our car window? Would it take any more effort for us to carry that soft drink cup home? Could we all just develop a modicum of pride in our region?

It can be done.

I've driven through states whose roadways are immaculate. New Hampshire's highways are spotless. Texas doesn't have a litter problem.

There are several issues at work here.

As Americans, we over-package everything. Look at a basic fast food meal ? there is a sandwich wrapped in paper, stored inside a foam box. There is a box for the fries, a cup for a soft drink, all packaged in a paper bag.

All too frequently, the entire mess gets tossed out of a car window.

However, it isn't fair to lay the entire blame at the restaurant's feet. Ronald McDonald isn't the person tossing the litter out the window.

We are doing it.

Granted, the restaurants could help by cutting down on the packaging. Retail stores could help by stuffing more items into those horrendous plastic bags. Or, better yet, they could adopt biodegradable packaging.

Finally, if people aren't willing to police themselves, let's have the Illinois State Police start writing tickets for littering. The "Don't Mess With Texas" campaign that helped clean up Texas roadways was accompanied by hefty fines.

And, while we're at it, let's kill two birds with one stone. For the past 10 years funding for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources has dried up. Let's arrest and fine litterbugs and dedicate the fine monies to IDNR.

LES WINKELER is the outdoors writer for The Southern Illinoisan. Contact him at les.winkeler@thesouthern.com or call 351-5088.