Why People Litter
Research by Keep America Beautiful, Inc. found that people
litter because:
❊ they feel no sense of ownership, even though areas such as
parks and beaches are public property.
❊ they believe someone else—a park maintenance or
highway worker—will pick up after them.
❊ litter has already accumulated.
"Litter-known" Facts
Motorists and pedestrians are often blamed for litter. There
are actually seven primary sources:
❊ household trash handling and its placement at the curb
for collection
❊ dumpsters used by businesses
❊ loading docks
❊ construction and demolition sites
❊ trucks with uncovered loads
❊ pedestrians
❊ motorists
Litter is blown about by wind and traffic or carried by water.
It moves until trapped by a curb, building or fence. Once
litter has accumulated, it invites people to add more
Litter and Your Taxes
Litter is a costly problem. Highway departments spend
millions of tax dollars and many hours annually picking up
litter—money and time needed for more important services.
Local, state, and federal governments also spend money
removing litter left by careless park visitors.
Clean communities also have a better chance of attracting
new businesses than those where litter is common.
What Can I Do?
❊ Set an example for others, especially children, by not littering.
❊ Carry a litterbag in your car.
❊ Make sure trash cans have lids that can be securely fastened.
If you have curbside trash collection, don’t put loose trash
in boxes.
❊ Tie papers in a bundle before placing them in a curbside
recycling bin.
❊ If you own a business, check dumpsters daily to see that top and
side doors are closed.
❊ If you or a member of your family is involved in a civic group,
scouting, or recreational sports program, encourage the
group to "adopt" a spot in your town and maintain it on a
regular basis.
❊ Make litterbags for your bicycle, and give them to your
friends, too.
❊ Report areas where people have illegally dumped garbage and
debris to your local highway, public works, or conservation
office, and ask that the material be removed.
❊ Volunteer to help organize a cleanup.
Can I Do More?
❊ Ask the organizers of a festival, fair, or other outdoor event in
your community to make it a "litter-free" event. This can be
done by giving out litterbags at entrances and making sure that
everyone who attends knows that it is a"litter-free"day.
Affiliates of Keep America Beautiful have organized litter-free
concerts, fairs and minor-league baseball games.
❊ Cover open loads on all trucks
❊ If you are a contractor, ask your chapter of the National
Association of Home Builders about the "Build America
Beautiful" program.
❊ Encourage a school to start a "clean campus" program. This
could include placement of trash receptacles, litter pick-ups,
and projects in which students track litter’s origins.
❊ Ask marina operators if your Boy of Girl Scout troop or civic
group can pass out litterbags to boaters. Public boat ramps are
also good spots to give away litterbags.
