I asked around my community why they don't have a better trash system placed and a lot of people told me that it's like this everywhere in Ecuador. But the people I asked didn't see trash build up as a problem. Many said that they actually throw trash away properly in cans, but when you look in the community, it shows otherwise. I also noticed that there aren't many trash bins in the town for the public to use. There also are not strict governmental regulations that control trash disposal. Littering is a habit here which the community is not adddressing.
It appears that the community is not meeting the need to clean up the town or regulate littering. I haven't seen change in the amount of trash in La Maná since I got here. However, I am working with my host family to try not to throw food, plastic, glass, or any other trash on the streets. I also explained to my host family why this is important for the Earth and the animals that live in Ecuador's diverse ecosystem.
