Littering is a common phenomenon both in urban and rural areas. Streets, sidewalks, parking lots, roads and highways are mostly covered with food wrappers, soft drink and water bottles, plastic bags, handbills, cigarette butts, tissues, papers etc.
Litter has the potential to cause harm to human health, safety, public welfare as well as the environment. Littering can be a fire hazard and it attracts pests and rodents. Litter also cause accidents on roads as drivers avoid litter on road. Litter also harm plants, vegetation and natural areas. The temptation to ‘litter’ is usually motivated by disrespect to the law and its enforcement as well as ignorance and arrogance in our attitude, thinking that municipalities will clean our mess.
There are several factors that may impact on littering behaviour including inconvenience and laziness, absence of ownership or pride for the area, feeling that someone else will pick it up, number, placement and appearance of litter bins at or near the site, absence of realistic penalties, enforcement of legislation, lack of social pressure and lack of knowledge of the environmental impacts of littering.
Thus, dumping and littering whether on main roads or neighborhoods, on pavements or alleys, at beaches or wasteland should be prohibited. Also, dumping anything that may obstruct traffic or prevent people from movement should be unlawful whether it is garden waste, construction waste, furniture, vehicles or any other materials.
Conquering Litter
Litter can be conquered. People can make a difference. It is our responsibility to clean up the litter in an ‘earth-friendly manner.’ Clean communities have a better chance of attracting new businesses, residents and tourists. There is no reason for any of us to litter because we can always find a litter bin to throw the trash away.
Let us set an example for others, especially children, by not littering and by carrying a litter bag in our vehicle, securely covering trash containers to prevent wind or animals from spreading litter, when visiting parks and recreation areas make sure to leave the area clean for the next person to enjoy and restricting the distribution and disposal of handbills.
Just to fine the Litter Bug is not effective. In some countries the authority catches them to do community work to pick up rubbish. Another way is to set up campaigns to teach the children to set good examples not to litter in the public to show the adults.
Hi Rehan,
My name is Jeff Kirschner and I’m the founder of Litterati. We’re using Instagram to clean the planet one piece at a time, and in that process, collecting data. Thus far, we’ve mapped, identified, and picked up 98,000 pieces of litter in 49 countries.
Perhaps we can help. If you’re interested in learning more, take a look at http://www.litterati.org.
Sincerely,
Jeff