Litter Prevention
Knowing More About Litter Is The First Step To A More Beautiful Midlands
When was the last time you saw someone littering? It may be hard to remember. But litter doesn’t just appear — it’s a result of careless attitudes and improper waste handling. Is there anything you can do? Yes, and knowing more about litter and where it comes from is a good start!
Click here for litter fact sheets from Keep America Beautiful.
Click here for information about the most littered item in America – cigarette butts.
Why People Litter
Research by Keep America Beautiful indicates that people litter because:
- they feel no sense of ownership, even though areas such as parks, beaches and roads are public properties
- they believe someone else — a park maintenance worker or highway worker — will pick up after them
- they assume that because litter has already accumulated, their littering is not a problem.
Litter-Known Facts
Motorists and pedestrians are often blamed for litter. There are actually seven primary sources:
- Households due to improper handling of trash and it’s placement on the curb for collection
- Dumpsters used by businesses
- Loading docks
- Construction and demolition sites
- Trucks with unsecured loads
- Pedestrians
- Motorists
You may be surprised to learn that pedestrians and motorists account for less than half of all litter – the other five sources account for between 50-80% of all litter.
Litter And Your Taxes
Litter is not only ugly — it is costly! The SC Department of Transportation spends more than a million 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 litter-filled communities.
