Roadside Trash

Litter seems to be out of control! It’s everywhere! I have noticed more on our roads, in parking lots (including Peace College lots) and in parks. Is it because it’s spring and everyone is outside more? Can we blame it on the economy? It’s a mystery to me why anyone would throw anything out of a car window. Or take in the beauty of a park and leave behind a fast food cup and bag. Who are these people that litter?

According to WakeGov.com the most persistent, deliberate litterers tend to be between the ages of 11 and 24 years old. The primary reasons people litter include:

· No sense of ownership or stewardship – just don’t care
· Believe that someone else will pick up after them
· Unaware of the link between the environment and their littering behavior
· Believe it is acceptable because litter has already accumulated in a location
· Convenience
· Willful littering to make a statement
· Unintentional

People who think it is acceptable to litter in certain circumstances gave the following reasons for doing so:

o The waste was organic
o No bins were available
o At sporting event where waste is collected

What is litter? Keep America Beautiful, Inc. claims 33% of it is fast food waste.

How do we prevent littering?

1. Set an example by not littering.
2. Pick up one piece of litter every day.
3. Every week, pick up all the litter in front of your house or on our campus, including the street
5. Make sure that your trash cans have lids that can be securely attached. If you have curbside trash service, don’t put out unopened containers or boxes filled with trash.
6. Carry a litter bag in your car.
7. Ask your co-workers, neighbors and or friends to join you in cleaning up an area of campus or one public area where litter has accumulated.