I shook my head in dismay when I saw the letter that recommended that environmental groups clean up the litter in Sussex County. The writer doesn't see groups doing this work on a regular basis because she's not looking. For example, the Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park have a monthly trails day to pick up trash in Cape Henlopen State Park. All are welcome to join in.
While the Friends group, Adopt-a-Highway groups and others that care are highly appreciated, it's not the solution to the litter problem in Sussex County. It makes no sense to have one segment of the population littering the county, and another segment of the population cleaning it up on a volunteer basis. The letter writer thinks that maybe there is no glory in trash. The fact is, it's discouraging to repeatedly go to the same place, picking up trash in an area you've already cleaned many times. The littering must stop.
We need to address the behavior that causes the problem, and that's something only the government has the power to do. We need police officers to enforce anti-littering laws, and the cost should be paid by the offenders, not by the taxpayers.
We have new leadership at both the state and county governments. Let's call on them to do something about the people trashing our beautiful county.
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