The natural beauty of Rabun County is beyond compare. Mountain vistas, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, wide valleys, rolling meadows. Each of us is blessed to call it home.

Unfortunately, some folks don’t show it as much appreciation as they should. They use this beautiful terrain as their personal trash can. Litter in Rabun County is an epidemic – and equal parts eyesore and heartbreaker.

But there’s an easy solution: 1. Don’t litter. And 2. When you see litter, pick it up.

I walk every other day on a route that takes me along Lake Rabun and through Lakemont. I always carry at least two small plastic bags to pick up the trash I find. Most days I run out of bags before I run out of trash. But after every trip, the area is a little cleaner than I found it.

Occasionally, I change my walking course and take more bags. On Tuesday, I set my sights on Old Highway 441 between Mathis Dam Road and Joy Bridge Road. While just over two miles in length, I netted four overflowing garbage bags, a wood plank, a storage tub lid, some plastic drainage pipe and miscellaneous odds and ends (see photo).

This isn’t the worst stretch of road in the county – not by a long shot. But it does provide an example of just how much garbage covers our roadsides.

Now I’m not suggesting that everyone start hiking long distances to pick up trash. (Although I’m pushing 62, have an artificial hip, one kidney and am overdue for a double knee replacement, so if I can do it … probably others can too.)

But, no, small steps can make a big difference as well. Pick up the litter along the street outside your home. That stray cup or soda can in the grocery store or church parking lot? Pick it up and throw it away. As the old saying goes “Every litter bit helps!”

Studies have shown that areas where there is litter promotes more littering. If we can get and keep our highways and byways free of trash, there will be less littering over time. And more of Rabun County’s natural beauty to enjoy.

For more details on how you can Keep Rabun Beautiful, visit www.keeprabunbeautiful.org or www.kgbf.org.