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In all of Kyoto, there were no trash cans. I got back to the hotel and told people about it, and we learned that trash was the responsibility of the locals who had the trash,” he recalled. “1.5 million people in that city – we never saw the first piece of trash on the ground.”
He continued, “Then, in May, Charles Andrew and I were in China – we spent a lot of time in Shanghai. There are 26 million people there, but not one piece of trash was thrown in the whole city. That just gave positive reinforcement to me that something can be done.”
Holman stated that he and others in the group – such as Garrett Wilcox, Dennis Donahue, Pat Dixon, and more – hope to alleviate some of the issues caused by litter within the city of Vidalia by cultivating the same sense of self-responsibility that individuals in Kyoto and Shanghai feel. “We do not want to organize litter pickup groups or anything like that – we want to change the culture,” Holman remarked. “If they can do it in Japan and China, we can do it right here.”
Committee Chairman Garrett Wilcox also spoke on the state of litter, as he shared his experiences picking up trash within the city. “I think it’s ridiculous how much trash that we have. I pick up a lot of trash, mainly out of entertainment for myself, but what blows my mind is that you can go to the Recreation Department and there are several trash bins. But, after a day of kids being there, trash is everywhere. It’s crazy,” he emphasized.
After their initial meeting, the group got to work, designing signs to remind others to help Keep Vidalia Beautiful and brainstorming ways that the group may help to change the surrounding culture around them by reading to children about the importance of throwing away trash. The committee also shared that they desire to use community service workers to help pick up trash on roadways as part of their courtordered service while trash is still being spread.
“What bothers me, is people here at home throwing out trash and knowing someone else is going to pick it up – but it won’t be them,” Holman emphasized, as he said that the surrounding society needed to “buy in” to this new effort and avoid being careless with their trash.
The committee will launch this new campaign against litter this week during the Vidalia Christmas Parade, as they emphasize the importance of picking up all trash and belongings after the parade.
