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Where Littering is OK

August 24th, 2009 - Uncategorized - 13 Comments »

I’m not sure how it happened, but there are a few places in this world where it is still socially acceptable to litter. I think the constant campaigning for a greener planet and environmental responsibility has caused us to seek refuge in the few areas where littering is still OK. Where might those be, you ask?

Movie Theaters
There’s something so freeing about finishing a movie… and just walking away. I enter the room heavy-laden, a tub of popcorn in one arm and a tub of Dr. Pepper in the other, and leave burden-free. I like to think I’m helping out the employees, you know, by giving them something to do in addition to interrupting my movie to count the number of people in the theater.

Airplane Seat-Back Pouch
You’ve left me no choice, Delta. When I don’t even have enough room to take a deep breath, I’m going to have to get creative with where I put things. After I finish my bag of seven mini-pretzels, the chances of me waiting half-an-hour to put it in your trash bag are slim-to-none. Sure, my leg room is impeded even more when I stuff a foot-long sandwich down there and the pouch fans out into my crotch, but at this point it’s a matter of principal.

Friend’s Truck Bed
If anyone deserves this, it’s your truck-friend. He never has to drive anywhere (except that one time a year when you need to move a giant file cabinet). I try to toss my Chick-fil-A bag back there when he’s not looking so that, when he finds it a week-and-a-half later, he thinks its his own doing.

Recycling Bin
And then there are those times where you just can’t muster up enough energy to walk all the way to the trashcan, so you just toss it in the recycling bin instead, hoping to pull a fast one on the guys down at Waste Industries. What’s that, sir? This grocery bag full of steak fat isn’t recyclable? Since when?

Are there any other places I need to know about where littering is OK?
___

  • David

    Thank you for clarifying…with all this green talk, I was starting to wonder if I'd ever get to litter again.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/evdaddy evdaddy

    Tyler, there is glaring omission on your list – sporting events. I'm not sure at what level one can start leaving trash in the bleachers/stands, but when attending a professional baseball game, trashing the place is part of the experience. Not only can you leave beverage cups and napkins, but you can leave the nasty leftover cheese from the nachos you had in the 3rd inning, and the you can just throw your peanut shells right on the ground.

    I just don't know how they clean that mess up before the next game.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/JoshAtkins JoshAtkins

    I would also say Sporting Events. Nacho cheese on the seats, mounds of peanut shells everywhere, and enough spilled beer to open your own brewery. All of which are surrounded by metal chairs/benches and concrete floors so rather than using a broom and a dustpan, you can just use a hose.

  • http://joshlafayette.com Josh LaFayette

    Also, the floor of Logan's Roadhouse.
    It's covered in peanuts, for the love of pete! Who's gonna notice a little addition of pocket lint and a gum wrapper?
    That gives us one reason to go there.

  • Amy Berry

    It's never okay to litter.
    That being said, some people would say public restrooms of any kind. I mean, have you seen the bathroom stalls at Wal-mart?
    But I'm that girl that even picks up trash from the bathroom floor around the toilet and wipes down the sink counters for the next patron. I know. I should get paid by them.

  • airjared

    Any restaurant after my two kids have finished their meal. You don't really pay attention until you get up to leave and notice the bomb that has silently exploded under the table. Funny how this always coincides with the waiter coming back with your credit card and you both make eye contact and he/she has to say, "no problem sir happens all the time". Yea, it might happen all the time, but your cussing me the whole time your maneuvering that front end loader to push the massive amount of half eaten food, sugar packs, straws, and those fun wooden games at Cracker Barrel.

  • http://www.therealmattminor.wordpress.com therealmattminor

    Tyler, the biggest compliment someone can give your blog is when they are inspired to start their own blog in your blogs comments section. It's even a bigger compliment when its really been thought thru enough to be funny. Way to go airjared. From now on I'll read Tyler's blog everyday so I can read your bloggish comments about Tyler's blog. ( O crap. I think I just did the same thing)

  • http://www.ponderingparenting.blogspot.com Lacey

    The lawn seating at a concert. Not only is it okay to leave your plastic beer cups, the wrapper from the granola bar you snuck in and the butts of your "cigarettes", it is also apparently acceptable to leave your blankets and lawn chairs. For the next guy, you know.

  • hayne

    I'm going to go with the Interstate.
    Nothing feels better than tossing an Orange Julius out of a window at 83 miles an hour.
    Excess of pennies in your console? A sea of road signs waiting to be pegged.
    A 3-day old nasty coffee in the cup holder? Let those drivers behind you know their wipers and fluid are still functional.
    And here is WHY…
    Give the inmates some work man. Instead of having them sit around lifting weights and watching Springer… litter! You are creating jobs! Obama would be proud of you.

  • http://www.andreabrown.wordpress.com Andrea

    Church. They give me so many papers, handouts and bulletins that something usually is left behind.

  • http://kevinkeigley.wordpress.com/ Kevin

    I find that the floor of my Suburban works just fine. After all, I have 6 kids – no one would think that I would commit such an offense. Besides, it just blends in with the kid meal bags…

  • http://myderbe.wordpress.com jenn@myderbe

    I have a child who thinks our home is his giant, personal trashcan. He tosses gum wrappers, napkins, whatever, wherever. And, yes, I am *that* mom, the one who has threatened to allow him to experience 4 or 5 minutes in an actual dumpster so he will decide for himself he does not want to live in one.

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