The human effect has impacted the environment immensely. People have become selfish with their directions, causing terrible damage from climate change to ozone depletion. This effect is evident when you walk down Westmore Drive in Etobicoke. Litter has been discarded and garbage is thrown about, including plastic bags to food packaging. Every nook and cranny reveals people’s total disrespect for our environment.
The city of Toronto has placed a $500 fine on littering; however, this has not been a successful deterrent for garbage droppers. It is unknown how many pounds of litter are found around the city, but it is clear that you will find garbage on Westmore Drive.
Litter is devastating to the environment and wildlife. The City of Toronto website says, “Items carelessly discarded on the ground can be harmful to the environment, as they may not easily biodegrade and can remain in our ecosystem for years. Some items can even get swept into sewers or rivers and end up in Lake Ontario.” Not to mention the harm these mishandled items pose to animals, as they can be consumed and cause immense damage to their digestive system and health.
The accumulation of trash can compile and morph into a larger issue for some people, that being an obstruction. People who navigate the world without eyesight can get injured. White canes can get caught and people can trip. Wheelchair users can have their paths blocked or endure expensive damage caused to their chair, which is an extension of their body.
Littering is not just an eyesore, it is an oozing scab on the natural environment. According to National Geographic, littering is one of the major causes of how urbanization negatively affects the environment. It may be easy to forget the land we stand on today was once lush with life as it now may resemble a personal dumping ground for litterbugs and corporations. Nevertheless, individual’s actions add up and cause a larger disconnect between people and the environment.
Littering causes massive risks to the environment. People may think dropping just one cigarette butt won’t do much damage, but if that’s the common understanding of littering, it will inevitably not be only one individual dopping butts. This is also a false understanding. One cigarette butt will cause damage, as they contain toxic chemicals that can leach into our waterways, can be consumed by an animal, not to mention a fire hazard, among many other risks. Furthermore, cigarettes make up 38 per cent of all collected litter according to the Truth Initiative.
There are many causes for litter; not enough public waste bins, overflowing garbage bins, or the matter that littering is the easiest way to dispose of your waste. However, none of these facts dispute the truth… littering is morally wrong.
