This month, I’m launching a light-hearted campaign to encourage everyone to help keep our park clean— without the lectures. Each week, I’ll be posting a new cartoon on the community board: kid-friendly, bilingual (English/Spanish), and designed to get a smile or two.
 |
| Trash Picking Cartoon - generated by ChatGPT |
But the kids aren’t the only ones getting content. For the grown-ups, I’m adding a series of humorous mini-essays—gentle reminders that a little civic effort goes a long way (and sometimes involves salad tongs). Think of it as community care with a wink.
The content below is the grow-up content I will be posting.
Introduction:
Ever found yourself picking up a crushed soda can with salad tongs and wondering, How did I get here? Welcome to the glamorous world of neighborhood trash picking—where dignity goes to compost, and civic virtue smells faintly of fermented Gatorade.
The Psychology of Littering: AKA "Oops, Someone Will Get That"
Littering is often the result of three forces: laziness, forgetfulness, and what psychologists call diffusion of responsibility—or what I call “Not-My-Problem-itis.” Tossing that coffee cup beside the bin becomes easier when we assume the “trash fairies” will swoop in overnight. (Spoiler: they won’t.)
Who Notices Trash? (If You See It, You’re Probably the One Who Picks It Up)
Some people have a rare superpower: Garbage Vision. Once activated, it cannot be turned off. You see every candy wrapper. Every cigarette butt. Every plastic fork glinting in the grass like a sad Excalibur. Congratulations—you're now the self-appointed Steward of Curbside Cleanliness™.
Essential Trash-Picker Props:
- Forget your dignity, grab these instead:
- Reacher tool (bonus if it makes a “claw” noise)
- Gardening gloves (because ew)
- IKEA bag or five-gallon bucket
- Sunglasses (to hide the shame or radiate eco-hero vibes)
- A podcast playlist that distracts you from muttering, “What is wrong with people?!”
Hot Tip: Don't Sort Recyclables on the Go
You may be tempted to divide your trash like a conscientious squirrel separating nuts and berries. Resist. Recyclables need to be clean and dry—your soggy beer can isn't impressing anyone at the sorting facility. When in doubt, toss it out.
Solo vs. Group Picking: It’s Not Just You
Solo trash picking is a form of meditation—with mild rage. Group picking? That’s therapy. Also: peer pressure makes you finish your block. Bonus points for coordinated vests and passive-aggressive team names like Trash Talkers or Litterally Fabulous.
Closing:
Trash picking might not be glamorous, but it’s weirdly addictive. Like vacuuming for extroverts. Once you start, it’s hard to stop—and soon enough, your neighbors may join in, or at least stop giving you strange looks when you stalk storm drains with a poking stick.
Remember: the world may be going to landfill, but your block doesn’t have to.
