A small but striking moment shared on Reddit is sparking familiar frustration: vape packaging tossed on the ground just steps from a trash can. 

Posted in the r/mildlyinfuriating subreddit, the short photo series shows exactly what the title promises: an empty vape package discarded in the grass, with a trash bin in sight. In the final image, the original poster throws it away themselves. 

It's a simple act, tossing trash where it belongs, but seeing how close the garbage can is makes the litter feel especially careless. While it might seem like a minor offense, small pieces of trash like vape packaging add up quickly in public spaces, creating not just eyesores but real environmental problems. 

Plastic wrappers, foil-lined boxes, and other non-biodegradable materials don't break down easily. Left behind, they can clog storm drains, leach chemicals into soil and water, and even pose risks to wildlife. 

Birds and animals can mistake shiny litter for food, leading to serious harm. 

This kind of waste also sends a subtle but damaging message: that our parks, sidewalks, and shared spaces aren't worth respecting. 

The truth is, building a cleaner, safer future doesn't always come from sweeping change; it often starts with these everyday choices. Picking up after ourselves, using trash and recycling bins, and calling out the small stuff when we see it makes a difference. 

If more people paused for the two seconds it takes to do the right thing, our communities would look and feel a whole lot better. Sometimes, caring for the environment really is as simple as taking a few extra steps to the nearest trash can. 

The comments ranged from blunt to reflective. 

One user simply wrote, "I hate people." 

Should it be illegal to throw away old clothes? Heck yes 👍 No way 👎 I'm not sure 🤷 Only if it's free to recycle them 🤌 Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

Another joked that the original poster had "righted this great wrong." 

A third offered a more thoughtful perspective: "I always see those vape cartridges on the ground and I know it's probably mostly younger people who use them, who haven't really learned to throw things out properly, or haven't had the chance to care or value that yet." 

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