Urban Sightseeing #14: We're Trash, You And Me

By Janeslondon Last edited 170 months ago
Urban Sightseeing #14: We're Trash, You And Me
Chewing gum art has it's problems. Click the links under here for more. Crouch End, N8
Chewing gum art has it's problems. Click the links under here for more. Crouch End, N8
David Cassidy, 1972
David Cassidy, 1972
Ooh, the irony
Ooh, the irony
Happy bin, Islington
Happy bin, Islington
Al fresco office, Hornsey Road, N7
Al fresco office, Hornsey Road, N7
Smoker's friend, Hammersmith & Fulham
Smoker's friend, Hammersmith & Fulham
Banksy, Newman Street, W1
Banksy, Newman Street, W1
Shad Thames, SE1
Shad Thames, SE1
Good effort...
Good effort...
Overspill, Upper Ground, SE1
Overspill, Upper Ground, SE1
Chewing gum art has it's problems. Click the links under here for more. Crouch End, N8
Chewing gum art has it's problems. Click the links under here for more. Crouch End, N8
David Cassidy, 1972
David Cassidy, 1972
Ooh, the irony
Ooh, the irony
Happy bin, Islington
Happy bin, Islington
Al fresco office, Hornsey Road, N7
Al fresco office, Hornsey Road, N7
Smoker's friend, Hammersmith & Fulham
Smoker's friend, Hammersmith & Fulham
Banksy, Newman Street, W1
Banksy, Newman Street, W1
Shad Thames, SE1
Shad Thames, SE1
Good effort...
Good effort...
Overspill, Upper Ground, SE1
Overspill, Upper Ground, SE1

The government is again thinking up ways to fine us for littering the pavements. This shouldn't really affect the majority of us who know it's wrong to just throw our unwanted packaging on the floor as we walk along the street, but there are idiots out there who think it's totally OK because 'we pay our taxes and there are people paid to clean up this mess'. Hmmm.

Smokers are among the worst offenders, as highlighted in a new Keep Britain Tidy short film. But other groups share the litter bug. This time last year the BBC reported that food shops, especially the fast food chains, were prime contributors.

Another messy group are the gum chewers who, once finished, expel their spent treat onto the pavements, or stick them under a seat or table, rather than find a bin. Singapore banned chewing gum for 12 years but has now instead introduced stringent laws on its sale. Here in the UK the idea is to increase the price of chewing gum to cover the costs.

It's really all about education at an early age. If a small child sees his mother throwing rubbish on the street, then he or she will just follow suit.

David Cassidy, we need you!

Previous Urban Sightseeing posts

You can see more of Jane's London photo collections, covering everything from boot scrapers to weather vanes, over at Janeslondon and Jane's Flickrstream.

Last Updated 20 January 2010