Parks and waterways are taking a beating and COVID-19 could be partly to blame. As people break free of the limits imposed on them to stop the spread of coronavirus they are heading outdoors in droves and leaving their manners behind. Pleas have been made asking all of us to take our garbage home if bins are full and “leave no trace” of litter on the landscape. Seems easy enough to do, so why is littering, unlawful and polluting as it is, on the rise?
COVID control measures - deemed by health authorities to be essential for stemming the disease - keeping one’s distance, avoiding crowds, cancellation of events from cleanups to concerts, wearing masks, are inherently anti-social measures. Could it be that the escalation in littering during the pandemic is related to the heightened anti-social environment we find ourselves in?
Littering is classified as an anti-social behavior. Is it mere coincidence that the problem is worse than ever after fourteen months of restrictions? Have these public health guidelines and protocols inadvertently prompted heightened anti-social conduct?
I hope rule makers and policy designers look at this relationship and propose ideas such as effective campaigns and enforcement to mitigate anti-social behaviors in our city and province. In my view, effective enforcement means ticketing and fines as well as education, binfrastructure and litter cleaning by paid staff and volunteers.
COVID control measures - deemed by health authorities to be essential for stemming the disease - keeping one’s distance, avoiding crowds, cancellation of events from cleanups to concerts, wearing masks, are inherently anti-social measures. Could it be that the escalation in littering during the pandemic is related to the heightened anti-social environment we find ourselves in?
Littering is classified as an anti-social behavior. Is it mere coincidence that the problem is worse than ever after fourteen months of restrictions? Have these public health guidelines and protocols inadvertently prompted heightened anti-social conduct?
I hope rule makers and policy designers look at this relationship and propose ideas such as effective campaigns and enforcement to mitigate anti-social behaviors in our city and province. In my view, effective enforcement means ticketing and fines as well as education, binfrastructure and litter cleaning by paid staff and volunteers.
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