Litter is absolutely one of the most harmful things in our environment. Sadly, millions of people just see it as a nuisance. Something that makes the place look untidy, and you don’t have to be crazy cleaning person to know that levels of tidy vary for everyone. What some of us view as a small amount of litter, others will think is loads. So it’s no good to view litter as something that simply ‘makes the place look untidy’. It’s vital that we all see litter for what it is – a danger.
Not only a danger to wildlife, litter is also a danger to plants too. It’s toxic, it’s messy and it needs to go! We’ll be encouraging everyone who reads this to go out and collect at least one piece of litter on their walk today. But let’s dive into why litter is so problematic.
The affects of litter on wildlife
Remember, litter can be found all over the world. It’s been found up mountains, it’s been found in the depths of the ocean. Just like litter, wildlife is also found in these areas. Which means that litter has the potential to harm all types of wildlife across the globe.
How does this happen? Well in a number of ways. You’ve possibly seen videos of wildlife in oceans being caught in discarded fishing nets and getting caught up in other pieces of litter. But a lot of ocean litter is ingested by wildlife too, you can only imagine the harm this has on these poor creatures.
The same can be said for land animals. Often the smell of litter is attractive, having had some sort of food or drink stored inside. Luring in animals to eat the item, only to later discover its harm. But land wildlife can also get caught up in litter. We’ve seen small birds trapped inside bottles and boxes. So you see, no matter where litter is, it’s causing harm to our wildlife.
The affects of litter on the environment
We already spoke about how litter is simply considered untidy to million of people. But not us. We understand that litter is a huge hazard to our environment. Of course, mother nature will overcome near enough anything, but that doesn’t mean to say it can overcome the impact of litter – especially as it is a relatively new issue in the grand scheme of things.
Litter breaks down in the environment, often releasing toxic chemicals, these toxins are then absorbed into the soil – something that plants, trees, bushes and even crops take nutrients from in order to grow. These toxins are potentially being drawn up into our crops, harvested, and served back on our plate. Not just an ‘untidy’ problem now is it?
How to go on a litter pick
So how do we fight against litter? Well, if you’re reading this blog the likelihood of you being someone who drops litter in the first place is quite small. But it’s important for us to remind you anyway – don’t litter! Aside from not littering in the first place, the second step is to make sure all your rubbish is safely disposed of. Keep hold of your rubbish until you can put it in a suitable bin at home or in a café somewhere. Often bins in outdoor spaces are overflowing or the wind picks items up and drags them across the field. Knowing your litter is safely disposed of should certainly give you peace of mind.
The final step is going on a litter pick! This is the most impactful thing you can do to reduce litter. Speak to your local council about obtaining a litter picker, or alternatively there are plenty of litter picking groups in local communities – speak to them. Once you have one, grab a bin bag from your home and take yourself on a walk. It’s that easy!
