By Robert Grigg
As trash continues to be collected, it continues to be taken somewhere. Of the 250 million tons of trash discarded by Americans each year, plenty of it unfortunately finds its way into the habitat of wild animals. Not only does poorly discarded garbage attract animals to areas often times far more dangerous to them, but the garbage itself can often times prove to be dangerous to interact with- just think of how birds often get tangled in plastic six pack rings or raccoons getting cut on the sharp edges of aluminum cans. However, there are things you can do to help cut down on injured critters:
- Recycling plastics and cans instead of throwing them away
- Retrieve fishing hooks and if you need to cut your line, collect as much of it as possible
- Secure trash or objects in the back of pick-up trucks, especially at higher speeds
- Cutting open plastic rings into safer, smaller pieces
- Secure trash-cans with animal-proof measures – Even if it’s just a rock on top of the lid
- Compost or throw out less unfinished foodstuffs which attract animals in the first place
- Discard trash in the proper places – don’t litter!
- Use a reusable straw or turn down straws at restaurants
- Smokers, utilize ashtrays and receptacles – Cigarettes are the most littered object on earth
- Always crush drink cans after rinsing quickly with water
- Wrap chewing gum in something and always see it into the trash can.
- Rinse out cans, cups, and jars – Hungry animals will get their heads stuck for a bite
- Carry reusable shopping bags! Plastic and paper are both very harmful to many animals
These are among just a few things that you can do to cut down on animal suffering. Vixster strives to keep your garbage and recycling secure, and we ensure that your waste gets to the proper place without taking shortcuts. Please visit www.humanesociety.org for more information, or feel free to look up your own information!