When you think of Colorado, do you envision majestic mountains thrusting toward the heavens? Ski slopes carrying skiers down a slippery path? Clear, cool lakes and wild flowers?

Me, too.

Yet, last weekend as we traveled to Denver for our son's wedding, both Scott and I were disheartened at the amount of trash and debris along the vast stretches of interstate and even within Denver proper.

I cringe here at home, too, when I see beer cans and fast-food bags tossed along the side of the road. This was different. Pieces of furniture broken to bits. A bag someone perhaps forgot on the car's roof, s...