With the Fourth of July over, the cleanup of the trash left behind by the people celebrating with fireworks is just getting started.
While there is much work to be done, Ben Douglass, who lives near Buffalo Springs Lake, saw the trash and decided to do something about it.
“It’s horrible. I mean, if I came to your backyard and did this, you might be a little upset, so please don’t do it in mine,” said Douglass.
Douglass was driving to his home when he saw the pounds of trash lining the road. He pulled over, grabbed some trash bags and got to work.
“I don’t like looking at it,” said Douglass. “I don’t want to come home and have to drive by a landfill every day.”
The trash is a familiar sight after the holidays as trash often piles up. Precinct 2 County Commissioner Mark Heinrich said this Independence Day was actually one of the better years.
“For the most part, a lot of people do a good job of picking up their trash, but some did not,” said Heinrich. “My guys tell me thought that this year the trash was pretty limited.”
Douglass said while it may be a better year, there is still plenty of cleanup to be done.
“It is probably one of the better, and I would say there is less trash out here, but it’s still ridiculous,” said Douglass. “If people would just pick up after themselves, then this wouldn’t be a problem.”
Until then, Douglass will be on the side of the road picking up garbage. While some may call him a good Samaritan, he says that he thinks nothing of it.
“I mean somebody’s got to do it, might as well be me,” said Douglass.
