Roadsides should remain free of trash, debris

New Jersey is a beautiful state. It has hills, ocean, woods, trails, beaches and so much more to offer a wonderful lifestyle to residents and visitors alike.

With so much beauty, it is sad indeed to witness New Jersey's lack of attention to keeping its roadsides and drainage ditches clear of trash and debris. All throughout this state, along some of the most beautiful local roadways, is trash in the form of beer cans, water bottles, plastic bags, fast-food items like Styrofoam cups, and large items like furniture.

I am mystified as to why this is allowed to exist. Why can't the people tossing this stuff out hold it until they can dispose of it properly?

Surely, New Jersey public officials travel the same roadways. We all do. Do they not see this increasing problem?

Why doesn't New Jersey make a better effort to assign cleaning crews, jail inmates, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts or anyone to get out there and clean it up?

Why don't New Jersey lawmakers mandate that land and homeowners take responsibility for their properties and clean them up?

How is it that people can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a house and allow what's just outside their door to look like a slum?

New Jersey ought to institute fines for those that allow garbage to exist and increase on their property. Those that are unemployed — why not get out there once a week and spend some time cleaning up around your community? It does not take much and if everyone contributed a little time, New Jersey would be a lot cleaner, better and healthier.

Please take an interest in your property, your state and where you live.

Michele Kanatous

Millstone