Everyone in America Should Live in a Beautiful Community. That’s the theme behind the Keep America Beautiful 2020 National Litter Study, which examined the state of litter across the country and how it impacts us all. The findings reveal that litter is not just an isolated issue—litter is a problem that impacts neighborhoods large and small. From urban centers to rural towns, litter undermines community pride, threatens local wildlife, and is a strain on the economy. Addressing this challenge requires a shared commitment to keep our environments clean, safe, and beautiful for everyone.
Is litter a Problem? The Numbers Speak Volumes
The study found that there are an estimated 50 billion pieces of litter on America’s roads. That’s 152 pieces for every American. And while litter is down 54 percent since Keep America Beautiful (KAB) did their last study in 2009, it’s still a big problem on our roadways.
As part of their research, KAB discovered that an overwhelming majority of Americans agree with these statements about litter, seeing it as more than just an eyesore:
- It poses a health and safety risk
- Litter is an environmental problem
- It reduces property values
- Litter ends up in our waterways
- It negatively impacts tourism and businesses
- Litter Impacts my quality of life
In fact, 90 percent of U.S. residents considered litter a problem in their state as part of this study. If so many Americans consider it a problem, why IS it such a problem? Shouldn’t such a large group want to take action?
The Hidden Issue of Small Litter
One reason litter is still prevalent is its small size. In fact, 87 percent of the litter identified in this study was less than four inches long—think plastic wrap, snack bags, and the number-one offender: cigarette butts. These tiny items may not always register as litter, which makes them easy to overlook but hard to ignore once they accumulate.
While that candy or sandwich wrapper that flew out of your car or escaped the trash can didn’t seem like a big deal, it might be time to change your thinking. If we truly want to solve the litter problem, it’s important to recognize that even the smallest items play a big role.
Take Personal Responsibility for Removing Small Litter
Here are three things you can do to make sure the smallest pieces of litter stay off our roadways.
1. Keep a trash bag in your car or boat and empty it responsibly.
2. Watch for small items in your car or at home that can fly away and become litter.
3. Dispose of cigarette butts in a receptacle.
It Only Takes 152
As part of the KAB study, they found that if every individual in the U.S. were to pick up 152 pieces of litter there would be no more litter – if, of course, no one was to litter again! To encourage individual responsibility, Keep America Beautiful launched the #152andYou initiative. The goal is to challenge everyone to pick up 152 pieces of litter each year. Imagine the impact if we each committed to removing our share!
Join Us to Keep Tennessee and America Beautiful
If you want to get even more involved, consider organizing a cleanup in your area. Visit our page for resources, or join No Trash November to be part of a community-wide effort.
At Nobody Trashes Tennessee, we’re proud to support Keep Tennessee Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful. We consider them vital partners in our mission to end littering in Tennessee. Together, with your help, we can reduce waste, protect natural beauty, and ensure a healthier, cleaner environment for everyone.
To read the full Keep America Beautiful study, click here.
