English: ‘Fly-tipping’, High Laver, Essex. Whilst this farmer was working in fields off New Way Lane, someone dumped rubbish across the entrance! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: “Rubbish Castle”, a building in Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan, constructed entirely out of garbage and bound loosely together with crude bindings. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: Fly tipping Fly tipping below the Communications masts above Cilfynydd. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is an excellent, reflective article published in the Japan Times.

via If the Japanese are so clean, why is there so much crap on my beach? | The Japan Times.

Personally, I feel pretty passionate about ‘fly-tipping’ (just dumping your rubbish anywhere). Whether it’s an advanced country, like Japan, or an emerging country, like India, this trend is on the increase. It’s a global trend.

As the article highlights, humans are generally clean yet they are prepared to dump their rubbish, when others are not looking.

This is a classic example of where government intervention is required. Apart from fines or even penal sentences, there are more constructive options.

Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India’s largest city, had enormous problems of poverty and rubbish. Now Mumbai has a multi-billion Dollar industry regenerating rubbish. This provides incomes for the poor and helps with the environment too.

There is an argument that the unemployed are not trying hard enough to find work. Perhaps, unemployment benefit should be linked to two days public service each week? In this regard, public service could include collecting rubbish for re-cycling?

Thoughts?

English: Fly Tipping near Wouldham Although unpaved, the lane appears to be popular with vehicles as it’s badly eroded and covered with discarded rubbish. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)