It's a real pet peeve of mine when you find people leave partially burnt trash in the woods after camping. It is great that your getting out, going camping, hunting, four-wheeling, or the alike, but it's not so cool when you live presents behind for the next camper. Many of us are very responsible and make sure we pack out our trash, but some are not so careful or at least are careless.

I really do not mind if people burn up their trash when they are in the woods. The pollution is purty minimal to everything else. What I don't like is when people leave partially burnt aluminum cans in the fireplace or litter glass bottles on the ground. While both of them may partially burn in a hot fire, they pose a risk to the next person building a fire getting cut or damaging a tire on their truck when their remains aren't removed when your done. Most of the trash left behind has a deposit on it or is recyclable. Aluminum is a very high quality recyclable that most of it will be recycled when returned. It might be a pain to haul it home then have to drive to the store or the dump to return it, but it beats leaving it in the woods.

Likewise, just because it's a fireplace, doesn't mean it's a dumpster. Trash left behind attracts animals and can make a mess. You might think somebody will be along shortly and will appreciate your rubbish in starting the next fire, except it's more likely to start to rot, get wet, or make a gooey plastic mess when they try to start a fire. Burn it before you leave, or haul it out. It's that simple.

It seems silly that I have to remind y'all of this. Yet, I've seen too much rubbish improperly disposed of on state land. This is not your private land where it's perfectly legal to dump garbage if that's what suits you best. Yes, tin cans and even glass will break down to nature after a while exposed to nature but it can take decades. Where it's out in places where the public should be enjoying the land it is a problem. Please don't litter.