On display is “Rich’s Rubbish,” which has finally been properly disposed of by Waste Management.
Richard Dinges
Don’t ask me why, but recently I got to thinking that I have some weird musings. I wonder if our universe ever ends? Why do cows moo?
I have wondered what debris lay on the shoulders of the roadway leading into SaddleBrooke from Rte. 77. Unfortunately, my queries are doomed because I can’t stop and find out. I must quickly drive by—my Breyers ice cream has already begun melting in the heat.
Too bad. Here was another missed opportunity. Another blown chance to discover what debris awaited uncovering. But one day last month things were different. I had no ice cream in the trunk, no melting issues with which to contend. Today was the day.
The great unearthing.
I parked on the shoulder between the SaddleBrooke entrance and the SaddleBrooke Preserve approach. So, off went this rubbish collector, with his canvas bag in hand. I walked, stooped, and bent for about one mile and collected litter from both sides of the road.
Later that afternoon, like a child emptying his pillow case filled with Halloween trick or treat treasures, I emptied my collection sack and sorted what amounted to be a stockpile of junk.
What I Collected
Household items: three hand towels, two mop heads, four paper napkins
Building supplies: two 34 inch rubber insulation tubes, one 37”x 26″ roofing shingle, one 18”x12″ sheetrock panel, one 7”x 6″ flooring tile, one four inch by four inch gasket, three cardboard wrappers
Alcoholic beverage containers: five whiskey bottles, Fleischmann’s most popular, four beer cans, one beer bottle
Soft plastics: one 60”x11″ patio pole cover, one 36”x10” insulation sheathing, five grocery bags, two soft drink bottles, two juice containers
Paper products: one Grandma’s oatmeal-raisin cookie wrapper, one ad for custom window installation, one Starbucks bag, one ad for $19 home cleaning visit, one ad for patio pavers, two opened envelopes
Personal/Hygiene items: five surgical gloves, two vape dispensers; one condom wrapper
My Take Away
Now two weeks later I ask myself was it worth it? Did I learn anything from this insanity?
What I Learned
1. I had an itch and scratched it. I knew I had better scratch it before it was too late. I am 81 years old.
2. Like insects, rubbish can be categorized into many groupings.
3. Like the slogan claims, litter can be put in its place, but someone other than the litterer has to do it. Otherwise, it remains as litter.
4. Motorists drive dangerously fast along SaddleBrooke Boulevard, ample reason to discourage others from duplicating my adventure.
5. No drivers knew or cared what I was doing or why I was doing it. No one honked a hello or waved to me.
6. I would never again repeat this process, especially when the temperature is 104º.
7. Finally, I celebrated when a huge Waste Management truck carried Rich’s rubbish to its appropriate destination—the Pinal County landfill.
Contact Rich, an Air Force veteran, at RAD4999@gmail.com.