Dear editor, I recently returned from a family vacation visit to northern Germany and was amazed at how immaculately clean the streets, sidewalks and autobahns were.

All over, especially at rest stops, lidded trash containers are available (not overflowing), which gives you easy access.

I also noted that at the service stations at mini-markets, on our way to southern Germany, you pay .50 euro to use the restrooms, which are very, very clean and a relieving pleasure to use.

Another thing which is so needed here is the use of grocery or store carts. In other countries, like Germany, you pay .25 euro or a token to receive a cart. Then, on completion, you return the cart to its proper place and receive your coin or token back. What a pleasure not to see any carts in the parking areas or dumped all along the street ways, like here.

And lastly, I’m horrified at how bad our streets and roadways are. In Germany, the roads were a pleasure to drive on, not like here. Instead of continuing to build new housing complexes, we need to stop and fix what we have. We have enough housing without adding more.

Let’s clean up our act!

Helene Schmidtpott / Napa