One thing we would change about New Haven is the trash. There is trash everywhere, and we don’t like it. There is a basketball court in one of our neighborhoods, and now it is just used as a trash can. All around the sides there is trash. You can’t even see grass.

In first grade, on Earth Day, we went around East Rock Park and picked up trash. We ended the day with three big bags that were two times the size of a normal trash bag. They were full. We have also seen trash on beaches. When you walk on the beach, trash could hurt your feet.

Fines for littering should be enforced more often. Connecticut state law prohibits littering on public land or property, private property, or in state waters. The maximum fine for littering is $500. There is a sign in West Haven: “if seen littering, you must pay a fine.”

But there is no one there watching! Then, what’s the point? There should be people watching or cameras. Maybe there should be a sound detector underground that activates a camera. If no one is littering, the camera won’t turn on. This way, more people would pay fines or avoid littering altogether.

Fair Haven Clean Haven, which started in March, is a good example of people working to stop littering. People should also follow their recommendation and report littering more often through the SeeClickFix app. Fair Haven Clean Haven recommends neighborhood clean ups. East Rock School could also start a trash pick-up club. They could go around once a week and pick up all the trash near our school. There is a lot of littering happening, and there are ways to stop it. We just need to get moving!