How to pick up trash in front of your home by neighborsproject
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This is a quick how-to guide to picking up trash in front of your home. It's really frustrating to walk out of your building and see trash. It makes you less happy to be living there, less inclined to go outside, and sends a message to your neighbors and people walking by that you don't care and neither should they.

People who make the small effort it takes to pick up trash often find that they've inspired their neighbors to do the same. And when a critical mass of people on your block keep the street clean, your block is lovelier and there's a sense of pride up and down the block. You're also more likely to get to know your friendlier neighbors because you'll be out on the street a bit more.

You may agree with all of that and still think, "but why in the world do I have to actually pick it up myself?" It sounds gross and like a total pain. But it's actually not if you follow my advice.

To do this Instructable, you need:
-A home
-A bag
-Napkins or tissue papers
-Access to trash and/or recycling cans

Picking up trash in front of your building is an item on the Neighbor's Checklist.
 
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Gorfram says: Aug 17, 2009. 5:40 PM
(off topic, but...) Cool purse - that circular front pocket is totally nifty!
Kiteman says: Sep 19, 2007. 10:16 AM
Safety point - use waterproof gloves (marigolds, surgical gloves) to pick up, er, biological wastes in rubber tubes.

Don't pick up knives or needles with hands - use picker tongs (maybe make your own ) ad place them in a sharps-proof container (such as a bucket, metal can or one of those purpose-made sharps bins sometimes given out by pharmacies)
neighborsproject (author) says: Sep 19, 2007. 11:36 AM
Good point. I honestly never pick up that level of waste, but I like the idea of putting on a radioactive protection suit of some sort to clean up filth on my street.
Big Bwana says: Apr 11, 2008. 10:05 AM
It's the whole though of doing it that grosses most people out but, With a pair of pliers, syringes or rubber tubes and other things are not a problem, honestly why leave it for some small kid to step on or worse play with. (( Some thing to think about, kids are very curious creatures )) Simply pick it up, and drop them in a plastic bottle even a pop bottle will work and screw on the lid and throw it away. (( sure you don't get your deposit back but at least there deposit is gone to )) And throw your pliers or other tools you might of used in some cleaner (( I use denatured ethanol since it's cheap and doesn't rust the tools if you forget it for a day or two, and give it quick wipe over with oil )) But you could use bleach, soap etc .....
dolpheye says: Mar 20, 2008. 5:53 PM
Nice ring! Did you make that? Seriously, have you not seen the "grabber" think that has two rubber suction cups to act as a 2 fingered hand? 'nuff said
Scott_Tx says: Sep 19, 2007. 1:49 AM
I take a plastic grocery store bag with me when I walk the dog and pick up all the stuff tossed out of car windows along my road. bastards. I have an unscientifically proven theory that keeping it clean keeps people from tossing more out.
rasputinsauntie says: Dec 21, 2007. 12:50 AM
I tried once to prove this theory scientifically for a research methods class. I can't remember what I found, but I got to do a poster presentation about it at the Stanford Undergrad. Psych conference...
Browncoat says: Oct 1, 2007. 5:14 AM
They've done studies about that with graphite & broken windows. If it's already there, it seems to encourage more. :(
neighborsproject (author) says: Sep 19, 2007. 11:37 AM
That's a great idea too. Sounds like you and Kiteman should hold joint scientific experiments on littering...
Kiteman says: Sep 19, 2007. 10:11 AM
I have noticed that the presence of some litter encourages others to do the same.

Try an experiment: scatter some screwed up paper around an otherwise empty bin and watch from a safe distance - I'd lay money that other people just throw their litter near the bin instead of into it.
Scott_Tx says: Sep 19, 2007. 12:03 PM
Reminds me of the experiment where they used a picture of eyes to keep people honest...
Scott_Tx says: Sep 19, 2007. 12:05 PM
neighborsproject (author) says: Sep 19, 2007. 11:35 AM
I would put money on your theory. And the opposite too, that more people will keep it clean if you keep it clean.
Bllasae says: Feb 25, 2008. 6:37 PM
Or you could always post eyes on all the telephone poles along the road lol.
Mouserz says: Dec 8, 2007. 2:54 PM
this is a little too complex for me.
dianneiyisan says: Nov 25, 2007. 9:52 PM
I will be sure to fully stock my husband's man bag. hahaha!! you used man bag- you are splendid. thank you for the great instructable. +1 rating!
!Andrew_Modder! says: Oct 12, 2007. 5:16 PM
weak
andreq says: Sep 19, 2007. 1:01 PM
If for whatever reason your angry about anything... take the garbage and trow it on the owner driveplace... maybe they will learn! p.s. I'm angry !
ac1D says: Sep 19, 2007. 11:34 AM
when i see trash behhing my house, i kick it with my feet to my neigbor house. simple and usefull>!<
dentsinger says: Sep 19, 2007. 8:32 AM
Thank you. lt amazes me how inconsiderate people are by just throwing their trash in the streets right in front of your home. Fools parked in the street who toss their "mickey D's" bag right out the window. Kids walking down the middle of the street like they own it while tossing their finished plastic bottle of soda. Weekly we have to go clean up the neighbors trash out of our own driveway just because it's the easiest path for their kids to walk to their front door. It's official...I've gotten old and responsible.
neighborsproject (author) says: Sep 19, 2007. 8:43 AM
I know how you feel, though I tend to think that picking up trash has gotten to be such an anomaly that only the young must be crazy enough to do it. Or maybe the young at heart. I think that most of the trash on our street comes from people tossing it out of their cars when they park. Pretty foul. Have you tried putting up a sign or a piece of humorous art to dissuade the kids from littering on your driveway? Something like, "I'm videotaping you right now and I know where you live, so you better think twice before littering here."
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