Юрист Форт-Уэйна призывает горожан перестать выбрасывать мусор из окон и примерить японскую культуру чистоты

One of the things I love most about Fort Wayne is its abundance of trails. Since returning home after college and law school, I’ve spent countless hours running and walking my dog, and biking through our city. Those miles have been filled with music, podcasts and quiet reflection. I’m grateful for past and current city leaders who continue to invest in making Fort Wayne a place where trails are valued and accessible. Recently, while running along the Covington Road trail, I noticed something I haven’t been able to ignore since: trash. Beer cans, plastic cups, an Arby’s bag scattered across the shoulder of the road, even an egg carton tucked into a culvert. I paused my run, pulled out the spare dog waste bag I had with me, and started picking things up. I tried to continue my run afterward, but more trash appeared around every bend. Soon my bag was overflowing, and I found myself carrying handfuls of litter. I went home, grabbed a large trash bag, and returned to clean more. Now, I can’t enjoy the trails without spotting every gum wrapper, empty vape container, empty water bottle or whatever else people throw out their car windows. I see it while driving, too — car oil bottles along Ardmore Road, liquor bottles tossed into ditches. It’s disheartening. Why is it so difficult for us to take pride in our shared spaces? A few years ago, my husband and I took our kids to Japan. I remember being stunned by how clean and orderly Tokyo was — an enormous city of 14 million people with virtually no litter. Even more surprising: There are no public trash cans. None. Yet the streets remain pristine. I later learned that trash cans were removed after a tragic subway terrorist attack as part of a nationwide safety initiative. But the real reason Japan remains so clean goes deeper. It’s rooted in a cultural commitment to courtesy and collective responsibility. People understand that public spaces belong to everyone, and keeping those spaces clean is a shared, personal duty. Why can’t we embrace that mindset here? I certainly try to. I want our trails to be beautiful and welcoming for everyone. So now, each week, I bring my kids with me — sometimes reluctantly on their part — and we pick up trash along the routes we use. My hope is that when people drive by and see us, they might feel inspired to pick up litter when they see it, too. Or, better yet, let’s simply stop throwing trash out our windows. Malak Heiny is the city attorney for the city of Fort Wayne.