Trashy trails- the littering problem in Romania

We went to Remet this weekend for Viorica's 66th birthday. It is about a two hour drive from Medias into the mountains. You'll find lots of little cabins in the area, hikers, and camp grounds. The hike was beautiful but this pile of trash along the path was not. Littering is a big problem in Romania. Walk, ride or drive through the country's cities and you'll see piles of trash along the roadway, along train tracks, and gathering in rivers. It is a pity to have such beautiful scenery adorned with empty bottles and old wrappers.


You know there was a time when I used to litter. I'd throw my candy wrappers out the window of our car when I was a little kid. Why? Because I was a small child that didn't know any better. Then the anti-littering initiatives of the 90's began. They started educating us about these things in school. I distinctly remember teacher's telling us not to be "litter-bugs". I did not want to hurt the environment. I did not want to be a "litter-bug". So I stopped littering. This memory bolsters my belief in education as a source for positive change. I would love to see similar public education programs here in Romania but alas there are none (as far as I know) . Still it is important to note that there are many who work towards improving the littering issue every day. Initiatives like Let's Do It Romania are a great example of Romanian youth taking steps towards a cleaner and greener Romania.