Applauding litter pickers but they shouldn’t be needed

It is a fine and rare thing to read something on social media which adds a little sunlight into this life, so it was a pleasure to see the following communication on the What’s On In Washington Facebook page.

It said: “I would just like to say a very big ‘Thank you’ to the lady who was litter picking around the Galleries today. I really appreciate it.” Lovely.

There are dedicated litter picking groups out there who meet up and do their thing, with no other motive than to improve their location.

Washington’s communities have organised a number of litter picks (note to potential organisers; little kids love a hi-vis vest). This has happened recently in Jarrow too. Then there are the “Friends of …” groups looking after our parks.

Excellent civic pride, but a pity that they are necessary in the first place.

It requires simpleton status to think that dropping litter is somehow acceptable. It takes a special kind of simpleton to imagine it is somehow excusable. Your litter; your fault.

Any attempt to shift blame for litter towards the Government, the council, the seagulls, the A-Team … is cobblers.

Whereas the casual dropping of wrappers, bottles, etc is sufficiently nauseating, then those who partake in the presumably strenuous practice of inserting vehicle tyres, shopping trolleys and traffic cones into our streams and ponds must surely be among the least necessary members of society.

But let’s talk about the goodies. In a world where civil servants are routinely given honours for doing the job we pay them for to do, it’s nice to recognise people who carry out indisputably excellent work for no reward besides the odd compliment.

Strangely, in a past year when people have spent more time than ever indoors, litter pickers regularly tell us that the problem has increased. Take a wander round somewhere like Hylton Dene, which could be beautiful, to see what they mean.

Have we reached a regrettable point where the simple act of placing litter where it ought to be placed deserves official recognition? Of course not. We haven’t gone that far.

Yet.

If you’re trying to organise a litter pick then please let us know. In anticipation of this – bravo.