I live in a college town, and as such, have to deal with a massive amount of pollution from students more interested making it home in a drunken stupor than what to properly do with that bottle of J.D. in their hands. Alas, it's me, a garbage bag, and the occasional cleanup to avoid becoming awash in crap.

According to Italian researchers, such acts of pollution have been a problem since the early days of Rome. Two inscriptions were discovered late last month warning against garbage dumping in the ancient Roman town of Herculaneum.

Using infrared reflectography, the researchers discovered decrees by two joint magistrates, Rufellius Romanus and Tetteius Severus, promising swift punishment with fines or lashes. From the article,

"The town's social makeup was rather different from Pompeii's. But the fact that 'no dumping' decrees were repeated over and over on the board, means that this was a serious problem in the town," Herculaneum scholar Mario Pagano told Discovery News."

Hmmm…perhaps it's time we honored the same traditions and put lashes back into the system? I jest, but I'm sure your average college student would be quick to recycle that bottle of beer, rather than throw it on my front lawn. "When in Rome…."

Article Link: Ancient Italian Decree: No Dumping