Virginia: Is the beautiful state transforming into a wasteland?
By Ajitha Balasubramanian
Virginia, the foundation of our country, is slowly losing its historical charms and attractions to the increasing amount of trash and litter. More and more trash is improperly disposed in an inappropriate location, otherwise known as littering. The issue of littering is becoming more and more common, with cigarette butts leading as the top trash littered. In the 21st century, littering has become more serious due to the numerous amounts of fast food restaurants and chains. Henrico County, a major city in our capital Richmond, has many recent trash sightings inside communities and outside restaurants. Research shows that harmful products like plastic wrappers and straws are damaging our ecosystem. Other dangerous pollutants include half-empty soda cans and many types of beverages. Causes of littering include laziness, unavailability of community trash collections, inadequate space, and unawareness of future consequences. Littering ranges from children to adults, who carelessly throw trash out into the environment, either consciously or unconsciously.
Ajitha Times