Resident sparks outrage after sharing photo of disturbing discovery near stream behind home: 'This is becoming more common'

A resident of Southwestern Ontario posted a photo of a couch that was dumped near a stream behind her home.

"This is becoming more common," one Redditor commented.

The original poster was quite upset, and commenters shared in the outrage, making derogatory comments about the unknown dumper and sharing concerns about humanity and the environmental impact of dumping objects in nature.

When we discard items in natural areas, it not only looks unsightly, but it can contribute to pollution and disrupt local ecosystems. Depending on what they are made of, these objects can take a long time to decompose and, in the meantime, may release harmful chemicals and materials into the soil and water. This can affect plants and animals in the area, and even humans. 

Objects left in natural areas can also be dangerous to animals that come across them. They may ingest something that could cause injury or health problems, or they may even become entangled in or trapped in and by discarded objects.

Instead of dumping objects, we can think about better ways to handle belongings that we no longer need or want. Reusing items or repurposing them is a great option if the object is in acceptable condition. Donating items to a secondhand store is an opportunity to give items a new life.

At the very least, individuals with unwanted items that are truly not usable should first understand their recycling options, and if recycling is not appropriate, the item should be taken to a designated dumping site.

For the most part, dumping objects in nature is illegal if the offender is caught.

It is important to have respect for nature. The more understanding that individuals have about the effects of their actions, the greater their desire to protect them, in most cases.

Most of the Reddit commenters on the OP's photo were in disbelief, simply disgusted by the brazen laziness and disregard for nature that dumping the couch displayed.

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"Dumping like that needs jailtime," one angry Redditor said. 

"What's wrong with people?" asked another.

One Redditor summarized: "It's actually pretty pathetic."

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