Two days ago I posted My first time since starting not finding litter in Washington Square Park, because over six inches of snow covered it. Since I committed to picking up at least three pieces per day until three days pass when I can’t find three pieces to pick up, I wondered if the snow would make it possible.

I also offered to take any bets that people would litter. Nearly everyone is addicted to doof. Few Americans can eat breakfast without depriving others of life, liberty, and property based on plastic, shipping, etc that pollute and deplete.

Then yesterday I happened to go early in the morning. It was still snowing and I saw no litter again. Two days. Maybe I shouldn’t have offered the bet.

This morning I had the crazy thought that I might make a third day. I decided to go first thing again. It snowed most of the day yesterday and was well below freezing so why would people eat in the park?

I also thought going first thing in the morning might be cheating. Since two days ago I went around 9pm and this morning I was going before 8am, I wasn’t even giving 36 hours. I might be checking on three different calendar days, but it would still be less that half of three full days.

On the other hand, going out first thing in well below freezing weather shows initiative and pluck. Maybe I should get credit for it anyway, I thought. Besides, even if I went three days without litter and released myself from the sidcha, I’d still go most days, just not obliged.

Then I arrived at the park. before I even entered I could see trash overflowing from the garbage can. I don’t think people even tried to put some of it in the can.

It’s from some lame coffee shop. The packaging said something like “all paper no plastic”—that is, greenwashing. Plus there was a beer can and a bunch of napkins and plastic utensils.

Back to square one: Change global culture

Why did I pick three days? It seems reasonable. When I grew up, people didn’t bring endless amounts of disposable takeout containers to parks. They sat down to meals, not duped to think takeout saved time or money when it does the opposite.

I conclude that the only way three days can pass without three pieces of litter being trivially easy to pick up in my park is by changing global culture, or at least American culture, which will likely be one of the last to change.

As it turns out, if you check my bio page, you’ll see my mission is to change global culture, so despite some hope against hope, I’m back to square one.

Here are pictures of what I found around 8am today in Washington Square Park in 20 F temperature (-7C). Scroll down for more if you want to be more disgusted.

---

More disgusting waste

A few months ago I posted Garbage people throw in my building’s garden every day. Yesterday, when I went out first thing in the morning, I saw this coffee cup casually dropped on the snow in my building’s garden.

That a trash can is a few steps away is beside the point. The yellow snow doesn’t bother me. Someone just dropped a cup there. What can go through someone’s mind to do so?

Snow still reminds me of childhood. I used to love playing in the snow. When I walked out my front door and saw all the fresh snow not yet turned to slush, I felt like a kid again. Then this garbage.

I could have cried.

• ← Meditation thoughts: What is meditation?