What's wrong with litter?

The first step to a Litter free tomorrow is waste responsibility and litter prevention education. Knowing where litter comes from and the negative impacts that litter has on our community and the environment is the first step. Our campaigns help people recognize litter and help change their attitude about it. "It's not mine" is not enough we need to go beyond that way of thinking.

Why is litter bad?
It hurts our communities, the environment, and our economy.

A littered community sends the message that there is a lack of community pride. Well-maintained neighborhoods are safer and healthier places because they discourage crime and vandalism by demonstrating the concern and care.

Plus, litter is dangerous to land, water, and animals. Animals become entangled in or ingest litter. Research tells us that 18% of all littered items end up in our waterways as pollution.

Litters impact on the economy is real. Each year, South Carolina spends millions of dollars to pick up litter. Businesses and tourism are affected by litter. Would you want to visit a city full of litter? Would you open a business in an area covered in graffiti and litter?

Where does litter come from?

Litter is not magic it does not just appear. Litter is misplaced waste.
The 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.

Litter is easily blown by the wind and traffic or carried by rainwater into public spaces like parks, roadways and community storm water systems.

Why do people litter?

Research by Keep America Beautiful has determined that people litter because:

1. They feel no sense of ownership, even though areas such as parks and beaches are public property.
2. They believe someone else—a park maintenance or highway worker— will pick up after them.
3. Litter already has accumulated.
4. They don't think of their action as littering.

Though litter can happen anywhere and at any time the most common locations are:

1) Special Event Venues. Event planners and participants can make the event "waste wise/litter free" if they plan ahead this with vendors who service the event. The number of waste and recycling receptacles needs to match the potential volume of waste. Volunteers strategically placed near receptacles will ensure a high level of participation by attendees.

2) Everyday Locations such as fast food businesses, convenience stores, picnic grounds, park benches and other high pedestrian traffic areas. These spots need properly maintained ash/trash receptacles nearby that are easily identified and serviced regularly.

3) Transition Points such as bus stops, building entrances, and parking lots. Identifying Transition Points in communities and equipping them with ash/trash receptacles that are regularly and properly maintained will reduce litter and improve a community’s appearance.

Who litters?

Simple, everyone. There is no such thing as a littering type. People of all ages and social backgrounds have been observed littering.

(Adapted from Keep America Beautiful, Inc.)

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