Keeping your word...literally.

Talking to a park ranger about camping in Tonto National Forest, Arizona,

I was cautioned to not leave garbage laying around when we left. I laughed and told him I was from the Museum of Litter, was obsessive about litter, and would leave it cleaner than I found it. He remained unconvinced. He said 98% of the people say that and leave the place filthy....that he doesn't believe anything anyone says anymore.

I found that so sad. He's definitely not meeting the right people...not the people I know. I thought of all the litter-pickers I know from around the world who care about the environment and wished he could know you.

The area was definitely left cleaner than I found it...

Here's a photo of the litter picked up from the parking lot, beach and picnic pavillions:

On the way out of the forest, I stopped by the ranger station with the litter I'd collected so he could see some people do keep their word. Unfortunately, the ranger station was closed (budget cuts, you know). I'm hoping he reads this and realizes there are many of us who go out of our way to pick up litter wherever we find it. Check out this map of world-wide litter-pickers. (Hold your mouse over the person to see who they are and where they are from.)

There ARE people, a LOT of people who care and do the right thing for the environment. Just wanted to give a shout out to all of you and tell you how much you are appreciated! A big THANK YOU from the Museum of Litter!