Fast food trash, aluminum cans and plastic bottles that are litter appear to be pitched, but is there any real proof as to how it all gets there? From the evidence I have seen in picking up roadside trash, I am inclined to believe that some of this also blows out of trucks and trailers. People do take this stuff home with them and put it in their household trash which is hauled here, there and everywhere.

When hauling household trash to the dump, we all know that if a bag of trash does not have enough weight to hold it down, it will blow out. Trash will also blow out of any splits or openings as plastic bags blow up like balloons and as air goes in, trash can escape through any opening. When this happens, the bag gets lighter and eventually the bag with the remainder of the contents can blow out.

Open trash containers are another problem. Animals can get in the trash. Early in the morning, while you are still sleeping, crows are busy pulling trash out of containers and dumpsters looking for food. They know how to open and empty the contents of a plastic bag. They do not pick up after themselves when they get finished. If the wind is blowing, it does not take long for the trash to scatter especially the plastic bags.

So, when you see plastic bags and fast food trash in parking lots, on the roadside, in the streets and everywhere don't be too quick to judge. We can only assume as to how it got there unless we actually saw it happen.

I would be willing to bet that there are not as many slobs out there as it appears.

Anyhow, the litter is piling up and needs to be cleaned up. Are you willing to help?

-- Betty Edwards, Louisburg

Trees need protection from home builders

Even when trees are being tagged to be saved by the demolition crew and the home builders, the protection fences often are not placed far enough away from the trees to do much good. Many people believe if the fencing includes the trees' drip lines, then the trees are protected. However, roots expand further than drip lines. Many new homeowners will experience the death of older trees on their property eight or nine years after purchasing their homes. Are there any developers in the area who consult with arborists prior to demolition and construction within an infill environment?

Another question ... What precautions are taken when demolitions occur, especially in the infill areas where there is already a density of homes? In homes built prior to 1978, asbestos and lead paint are present. How many demolitions are occurring where water is being used to continuously wet the materials as the older homes are being demolished? In the recent NYC pipe explosion it was said that the steam from the pipes kept the asbestos from becoming airborne. So does that mean if water is not part of the demolition process, then surrounding property owners and their families are being exposed to hazardous pollutants coming from the demolition site?

What are the regulations in Wake County and North Carolina concerning demolitions? Are people who are doing the demolition work required to be licensed or can a builder subcontract the work? Are the workers required to use protective gear? Is there a washdown area for the workers so they will not take home hazardous materials on their clothes and shoes?

While many of the new homes are being built "green," are builders and community leaders stressing a "green" safe environment for nearby neighbors? And is that same concern being stressed for the demolition and construction crews who are onsite and the most at risk?

-- Ann H. Farmer, Raleigh

Another writer speaks for the trees

I am not against new construction, but save the trees for goodness sakes. I live in a teardown neighborhood ITB. The builder/developers are leveling the older homes along with every living thing on the lot. This includes the stately older oaks and the umbrella of pines that are the reason these neighborhoods are so desirable. Not to mention the protection they give from the sun and habitat for the birds and small animals. We are at war over oil and this behavior seems just incredibly irresponsible to me. There are many days when I can have my doors and windows open and sit on my porch getting a nice breeze when I look over to my neighbors and see them all shut-up with the AC roaring. Yes they do put trees back, but even when the trees they plant reach a mature height they will not even reach the eave lines of some of these houses -- what are we thinking? I think that there should be guidelines put into place restricting the ability to take down trees and then requiring a percentage of the lot to remain in yard area. That would reduce the size of the allowable building area and keep the new homes in a reasonable range.

-- Annie Bennett, Raleigh

(To read other forums or post your own thoughts, go to share.triangle.com and click on "forums.")

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