The Waste

 

People from the dead-end street next door put out their trash in this bin at the corner of the street in front of the condominium I live in. Since it is a very narrow street, the garbage truck does not go in, so this bin is supposed to be for the dwellers in these 20 or so houses on this particular street to use.

Garbage trucks not come by every day if I am not mistaken it is every other day and at night. Knowing this does not help much because people still take out their trash on a daily basis. The garbage bags just sit there in all weather conditions- rain, hail, and the hot sun. Not to mention those pranksters who just like to make a mess.

Every morning the bags seem to be torn apart by hungry animals – dog, cats, birds - or adults and children who are hungry. More and more people are starving and homeless therefore, whatever they can get their hands on is a blessing. My grandmother always used to say, “one's trash is another's treasure”.

For this reason, I separate what can be reused or eaten and make the proper donations to the NGOs that will accept them. It seems to be a lot of work, but once you incorporate it into your routine, it becomes automatic like brushing your teeth.

The smile on people's faces when they receive the donation makes the heart smile. Nonetheless, remember to mend, wash, and fold the clothes before donating them. In addition, make sure that broken items are fixed simply because the donation bins are not trash cans.

Written December 13, 2021

Photo: Meire Marion