Clean Communities
Litter Prevention
Litter is an unfortunate byproduct of our throwaway consumer culture. It is also a visual blight on the American landscape, a hazard to human health and safety, and a disruptive force in natural ecosystems.
Keep America Beautiful believes every person has a stake in their community, including a stake in the community’s litter problem. Research and experience tell us that litter attracts the eye and, at times, attracts even MORE litter. We have found that a clean community discourages littering and illegal dumping. Proper handling of litter and waste in a community raises the standards and expectations of everyone.
Why Do People Litter?
Keep America Beautiful has determined that people litter because:
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They feel no sense of ownership, even though areas such as parks and beaches are public property.
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They believe someone else – a park maintenance or highway worker – will pick up after them.
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Litter already has accumulated.
What Are The Sources Of Litter?
There are seven primary sources of litter:
1. Pedestrians who do not use receptacles.
2. Motorists who do not use car ashtrays or litterbags.
3. Business dumpsters that are improperly covered.
4. Loading docks with inadequate waste receptacles.
5. Construction and demolition sites without tarps and receptacles to contain debris and waste.
6. Trucks with uncovered loads.
7. Household trash scattered before or during collection.
Where Do People Litter?
Litter is easily blown by the wind and traffic or carried by rainwater into public spaces like parks, roadways and community stormwater systems. Research tells us that 18 percent of all littered items end up in our waterways as pollution. Common locations where litter often appears fall into the following categories:
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Special Event Venues - Concerts, fairs, sporting events and other special event venues attract a large number of people who generate a lot of waste.
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Roadways and Highways - Roadways, highways, on/off ramps and median strips have increasingly become a gathering place for litter.
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High Traffic and Everyday Locations - Fast-food businesses, convenience stores, picnic grounds, park benches and other high pedestrian traffic areas are additional locations for litter.
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Transition Points - Places where someone stops to eat, drink or smoke before they proceed. A transition point may be the entrance to a public building, an office, a retail establishment, a train platform or bus stop.
Further resources for you:
