Click here to subscribe today or Login.
Would it be a good idea to …
… get creative in Northeastern Pennsylvania about controlling chronic littering?
A robotic trash can, developed at a Japanese university several years ago, supposedly detects rubbish dropped in its vicinity. Equipped with sensors, cameras and speakers, the small cans, also called “sociable trash boxes,” look somewhat like Minions as they shimmy and bend, “talking” to children and encouraging them to properly deposit items.
A writer to the Times Leader recently suggested a different sort of incentive for keeping places tidy, and it’s considerably more low-tech.
“Can the Times Leader create a ‘Litter Honor Roll,’” he asked, “and name various business that take the initiative to clean not only their property, but the general area (especially around restaurants)? The businesses can enjoy the positive publicity, and we all can enjoy the clean environment.”
The writer’s request apparently was inspired by a recent trip past a fast-food restaurant on state Route 315, where a neighboring wooded property teemed with trash.
Only a few weeks ago, volunteer crews that participated in the annual Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania campaign scoured certain area roadsides, playgrounds, parks and public spaces. What can be done to keep those spots, and others, looking pristine?
Finding a practical solution will be good for our collective health and comfort, because discarded items, including certain food and beverage containers, potentially can serve as breeding areas for mosquitoes and other bothersome insects.
Another benefit: Beautifying our roadsides can serve to encourage visitation and, possibly, business investment. That point takes on particular significance in the Wyoming Valley during May and June, as out-of-towners travel here for college commencements, high school graduations, the annual Fine Arts Fiesta in downtown Wilkes-Barre and the area’s other seasonal festivals.
Are the conditions of some local landscapes spoiling our image? What can we do to keep our communities debris-free?
Give us your feedback by sending a letter to the editor or posting comments to this editorial at timesleader.com.
Likewise, tell us your ideas for improving the community and making area residents’ lives better. Maybe we’ll spotlight your suggestion in a future editorial and ask readers, “Would it be a good idea to …”