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EDITORIAL: Highway Hazard: Add Litter Cleanup Volunteers to the Casualty Count of Meth Labs

Posted on: Monday, 27 March 2006, 09:01 CST

By The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio

Mar. 27--You see the signs throughout Ohio: In large letters, Adopt-A-Highway. In smaller letters, the name of the group, usually a civic organization or youth program such as Girl Scouts or 4-H that has pledged to keep the next mile or so of that road litter-free. Unfortunately, that bit of can-do volunteerism is falling victim to the nation's growing methamphetamine addiction.

Not that the volunteers have a drug problem. The people who think nothing of endangering peaceful neighborhoods with their illicit labs also find the roadside a convenient place to dump the poisonous leftovers. Among the more common ingredients of homemade meth are antifreeze, ammonia and lye, some harmful if touched, some potentially deadly if accidentally inhaled or ingested. Even seemingly innocent kitty litter can be laced with noxious chemicals. Little wonder that groups once willing to give their time picking up roadsides litter are finding other worthwhile and safer causes.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which oversees Ohio's litter-control efforts, estimates that more than 2,300 tons of the 11,772 tons of junk left on the side of the state's roads in 2004 were a byproduct of meth manufacturing. The national group Keep America Beautiful offers advice on spotting and avoiding meth debris. With the most meth lab busts in Ohio, Summit County has seen Adopt-A-Highway participation drop. Only one 4-H group in Medina County is willing to try a litter project.

This pharmaceutical nightmare worsens, devastating lives and houses, disrupting neighborhoods and now polluting the landscape and endangering those who would make it better. Be careful out there.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio)

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