What should have been a peaceful stroll for one Canadian resident instead revealed a sight that social media commenters called "unacceptable" and "disgusting."

The resident shared photos from their walk in the "r/Brampton" subreddit, dedicated to happenings in Brampton, a Toronto suburb. Those pictures show large amounts of trash scattered across the ground.

"I was enjoying a walk in a park," the original poster wrote, "until I came across this."

Numerous trash bags are seen in the photo lying among the leaves and branches. Most of the bags are ripped open, spreading individual pieces of garbage throughout the park.

Litter is not only a nuisance and an eyesore, but it is also a major environmental problem. It ends up polluting the soil and waterways, creates a breeding ground for disease-carrying mosquitoes, and poses a threat to wildlife.

Last summer, for example, British Columbia wildlife rescuers found several animals that had been badly injured by used, littered fishing gear.

"Pollution of any kind is incredibly deadly for wildlife," Jackie McQuillan, a support center manager for a wildlife rescue, said at the time.

Videos have also shown wildlife eating litter at United States national parks. And social media is full of examples of litter polluting parks and ruining people's days.

Plastic is a major contributor to Canada's litter problem. Data shows that between 2012 and 2020, roughly 15 billion plastic bottles and 14 billion plastic bags were littered nationwide.

Government officials have tried to curb the plastic problem by introducing a "zero plastic waste" plan. As part of that plan, the country has banned the production, import, and sale of several single-use plastics, including shopping bags, straws, cutlery, and plastic-foam takeout containers.

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But reaching zero plastic waste will also require citizens to do their part, stop littering, and keep parks in Brampton and across the country clean.

"It's truly disturbing to me that people care so little for the environment that they'll toss garbage in the woods," one commenter wrote. "It's sheer laziness and a lack of respect for others."

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