I don't know know if this a universal phenomenon, but it certainly plagues New York City and parts of Africa:
The wind picks up discarded plastic bags and deposits them in trees, where the unsightly tattered remains remain for years.
So, on the model of the groups that clear tropical beaches and reefs of plastic netting, I propose we arm small teams of bag snatchers, with twenty or thirty foot long versions of the devices stores use to reach objects on high shelves. Then we let them roam the streets, or fields, clearing trees of the plastic bags caught in their branches.
In urban areas, we can simply add these tools to the pruning devices used by the tree maintenance crews. Elsewhere, we can draw on the ranks of people who are normally inclined to pick up other people's litter, just to make the world a better place.-- DrCurry, Jun 10 2006 Tools like this http://www.independ....asp?number=609242NOnly about twenty or thirty feet longer. [DrCurry, Jun 10 2006] (?) Was a good idea then, happens to be a good idea now! http://ccwf.cc.utex...edonian_phalanx.jpg [Letsbuildafort, Jun 10 2006] Twenty or thirty foot version sans workers. http://www.roadside...ions.ca/pincers.htm [2 fries shy of a happy meal, Jun 11 2006] It would be fun to see them pluck bags out of the air, too.-- phundug, Jun 10 2006 Would a sticky ball on a length of string and a well aimed shot do just as well? I like the image of barge pole sized picker-uppers though.-- fridge duck, Jun 10 2006 IIRC, Outside magazine ran an article about a guy from NYC who does this. Croissant.-- baconbrain, Jun 10 2006 Brings rise to the new phrase "I wouldn't go near him with a bag snatcher." +-- dbmag9, Jun 10 2006 Aww - I was hoping this was a plot for mass mugging.-- Letsbuildafort, Jun 10 2006 Uh... don't groundskeepers do this already?-- 21 Quest, Jun 10 2006 i know they're for plastic bags, but they should wear capes and masks anyway.-- tcarson, Jun 11 2006 + I'd volunteer!-- xandram, Jun 12 2006 halfbakery