We know better

As I walk through the UBC campus, I feel the cold breeze through my hair and the sun's heat on my back. I see squirrels running from the treetops to the soil, rummaging for food and eating away like it’s their last meal. I see birds poop on the ground as they sit on building tops- they don’t know any better. A phrase that crosses my mind with a chuckle. But us? We know better. We do our business in the bathroom, and we eat on tables - eating food most definitely not covered in dirt. Yet, we leave our trash on the ground. I see garbage cans everywhere on campus, but our trash lay littered. I thought we knew better. Wildlife can mistake our waste as food, often resulting in injury, death and disruption to food chains. These impacts are in addition to the environmental effects climate change is currently affecting wildlife. Additionally, as plastic breaks down it releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, and plastics can also disrupt a plant’s ability to flourish in the soil.