how can we solve the problem of littering essay

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Reasons, Consequences and Possible Solutions of Littering

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Littering can be defined as making a place or area untidy with rubbish, or incorrectly disposing waste. Littering causes pollution, a major threat to the environment, and has increasingly become a cause for concern in many countries. As human beings are largely responsible for littering, it is important to understand why people litter, as well as how to encourage people not to litter. This paper explores the reasons and consequences of littering and suggests possible solutions based on international experience.

Why do people litter?

Laziness and carelessness have bred a culture of habitual littering. Carelessness has made people throw rubbish anywhere without thinking about the consequences of their actions. Many people do not realize or underestimate the negative impacts of littering on the environment. People believe that their individual actions will not harm society as a whole. As a result, it is common to see people throwing wrappers, cigarette butts and other rubbish in public areas. The majority of people believe that there are others who will clean up after them and consequently, the responsibility of cleaning up litter usually falls on local governments and taxpayers. Thus, the lack of responsibility to look after public places is another problem.

In Georgia, many residents living in urban areas blame the lack of public trash cans for widespread littering in the streets. Several studies have proven a correlation between the presence of litter in a given area and the intentional littering of that particular spot. [1] When a person sees litter accumulated in one place, it gives the impression that it is somehow acceptable to litter there. This, along with the absence of appropriate local waste services, might be one of the main reasons behind illegal dumping in Georgian villages.

Consequences of littering

Litter adversely affects the environment. Littering along the road, on the streets or by the litter bins, toxic materials or chemicals in litter can be blown or washed into rivers, forests, lakes and oceans, and, eventually can pollute waterways, soil or aquatic environments. Based on recent data, 7 billion tons of debris enter the world’s oceans annually and most of it is long-lasting plastic. [2] Litter also reduces air quality due to the smell and toxic/chemical vapor emanating from the trash. A polluted environment can encourage the spread of diseases. Toxic chemicals and disease-causing microorganisms in the trash may also contaminate water systems and spread water-borne diseases which can negatively affect the health of both animals and humans if unclean or untreated water is consumed.

Cigarette butts take a grand total of ten years to decompose because of cellulose acetate, contrary to the common perception that cigarette butts decompose very quickly in only a matter of days. [3] In reality, cigarette butts are a serious threat to the environment, as they contain toxic substances like arsenic which can contaminate soil and water.

Plastic litter is another threat to the environment and its inhabitants. It has often been mistaken for food by both land and marine wildlife. When consumed by animals, they reduce the stomach capacity since they cannot be digested. In the long-term it affects the animals’ eating habits, eventually killing the animals. Much of marine wildlife including birds, whales, dolphins and turtles have been found dead with plastic and cigarettes found in their stomachs. [4] An estimated 100,000 sea mammals are killed by plastic litter every year. [5] Some of the materials may also be poisonous or contain sharp objects therefore damaging the animal’s vital organs or severely injuring them. Another negative aspect of littering is that it is too expensive for a country, society and individuals. Cleaning up litter requires a huge amount of money that is financed by taxpayers that could be used in more productive ways. Littered places are visually displeasing and they depreciate the aesthetic and real value of the surrounding environments. Places with large amounts of litter are often characterized with homes and property that are less valuable as a result. Similarly, it affects tourism as it makes city areas and roadsides look disgusting and tourists tend to avoid staying and even visiting areas that are littered. Furthermore, littering can lead to car accidents. Some trash in the road is enough to create a dangerous situation that could result in serious injuries or death.

The ideal way to handle the problem of littering is for each member of society to take responsibility and try their best to properly dispose waste. If citizens are required not to litter, appropriate conditions must be provided by local governments. Measures must be taken by appropriate local authorities to ensure more garbage bins are installed in various areas for effective garbage disposal. Installing enough garbage bins in town centers, walking routes, public areas, and near bus stops as well as fast-food restaurants offer convenience in disposing and collecting litter. To avoid additional problems due to overfilling, the bins must be emptied regularly.

Unfortunately, the existence of garbage bins do not guarantee that waste will not be dropped in the streets. Enforcing strict litter laws will encourage people not to litter in private and public places. Such laws work towards prohibiting illegal dumping and littering.

According to research conducted by the 2011 Keep Britain Tidy campaign, attitudes concerning enforcement are greatly shaped by the degree to which an individual sees it as a threat and many do not think it is likely they will be fined for environmental offences. The same research also reports that people who have seen or heard about fixed penalty notices being issued are less likely to litter. [6]

Littering penalties and other enforcement measures are common practices worldwide. For instance, the penalty for the first case of littering consists of fines from $100 to $1000 and at least eight hours of community service litter cleanup in California. For subsequent offenses, fines and the duration of required community service increases. In Louisiana, intentional littering can result in a one-year suspension of your driver’s license or imprisonment for up to 30 days in addition to standard fines and community service. [7] According to the Code of Waste Management, adapted in 2015, penalties for dropping municipal waste in the street varies from 80 to 150 GEL in Georgia. The Department of Environmental Supervision, Ministry of Internal Affairs and the local self-governments are the responsible institutions responsible for executing the law and violators are fined systematically by the appropriate institution. However, authorities cannot fine someone unless they actually see them litter and it is impossible to control every street.

Undoubtedly, penalties have a real effect on littering behavior, but education and raising awareness is crucial in guaranteeing long-term results. Community clean up events can be an effective way for spreading anti-litter messages in society. The issue can also be incorporated in bulletin boards, TV programs, social media platforms, and newsletters in a more intensive way in order to spread the message widely. Furthermore, an  anti-littering sign might be placed in highly littered areas such as the streets near public transport stations. These signs serve to constantly remind people that littering is a bad thing that should be avoided.

Some people argue that not only penalties but rewards also might be a good idea. People “caught” doing the right thing may be given rewards like shopping vouchers and their positive disposal behavior publicized in the media or social networks to encourage others to dispose of litter properly. [8]

[1] What is Littering? Conserve Energy Future. Rachel Oliver.

[2] Walking Green: Ten Harmful Effects of Litter, Green Eco Services, Cathy, 2008.

[3] Twenty Astonishing Facts About Littering, Conserve Energy Future, Rinkesh, 2018.

[4] What is Littering? Conserve Energy Future, Rinkesh.

[5] Walking Green: Ten Harmful Effects of Litter, Green Eco Services, Cathy, 2008.

[6] The Effectiveness of Enforcement on Behavior Change, Keep Britain Tidy, 2011.

[7] States with Littering Penalties, National Conference of State Legislatures, 2014.

[8] Why do People Litter? Litterology, Karen Spehr and Rob Curnow, 2015.

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The Problem of Littering Essay Sample

Littering is a significant problem for many countries, and it has been around for many years. There are plenty of reasons why people litter and many ways to solve this problem and prevent people from leaving their garbage in public places, such as beaches and parks.

There now are many causes of people littering, all of which are unreasonable and unacceptable. The main cause of littering is that people lack a sense of ownership of public places. They have the perception that just because they do not own beaches, parks, sidewalks they can carelessly leave their rubbish there. Furthermore, littering is connected with people's psychology and how they view the world around them. This means that when they see an already filthy site, they are more likely to follow the example of others and therefore throw their rubbish. However, the fault is not only on people, but on the government as well. They are not even trying to stop this situation, as in most public places, there are very few rubbish bins and sometimes they do not even exist.

Clearly, all problems have solutions, so there are many things we can do to reduce littering. First and foremost, as Kyra Miles said, ''The only way to reduce littering is through education''. The impact littering has on the environment and humans should be taught from a really young age. Proper education can actually solve many of the problems that our society faces. Governments and schools should encourage people to recycle and keep public places clean and beautiful. Additionally, they can set up programs where people can volunteer to clean up beaches, parks and sidewalks, as this is another way for people to understand the importance of clean public places and throwing their garbage in bins. Lastly, for those who keep littering and do not care about the environment, strict laws are the solution. When someone gets caught littering, they should be made to pay fees for the destruction of public property. 

In conclusion, if the above suggestions are taken into consideration and if both citizens and the government are willing to help, then the problem of littering can be solved easily and we can again see public places free of rubbish and bad smell.

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How the History of Littering Should Impact the Solution

LIttering has wreaked havoc on ecosystems all over the world. What do we do now to amend the global problem of chronic waste?

By Emily Folk

A single plastic bottle can take up to 450 years  to degrade.

Today, we know the impact littering has on our environment and human health. With access to the Internet and social media platforms, we witness the havoc pollution has wreaked on ecosystems all over the world. Solving the littering issue can seem like an insurmountable challenge. However, there are ways to amend the global problem of chronic waste, even though it may initially seem overwhelming.

Kids learn the definition of a “litterbug” starting in elementary school and receive regular reminders not to throw trash on the sidewalk. For decades, the conversation around litter points the finger to the consumer—the person throwing trash out their car window or tossing food wrappers in the park. 

When finding a solution to littering, we need to examine its history. Discussions for the past few decades have placed the responsibility of preventing litter on the individual. In actuality,  much of the blame goes to the industries that create waste in the first place. 

Litter isn’t the problem. It is simply a by-product of a convenience-oriented economy. If you look at the history of litter, there remains one constant. Production of trash, including plastic packaging and aluminum cans, has continued to grow. Despite efforts to reduce waste and promote recycling, corporations like Coca-Cola continue to produce plastic pollution at an unsustainable level.

Litter would not exist if it were not for the businesses that created disposable packaging and capitalized off their invention. The primary anti-litter campaign, Keep America Beautiful, was founded by the very companies producing the waste. 

Sustainable solutions to litter involve looking at the role of the packaging and bottling industry. To truly put an end to littering, we need to put more accountability on corporations to reduce the amount of waste they create in the first place.

The Keep America Beautiful Campaign

Keep America Beautiful is perhaps the most well-known anti-litter movement in the United States. Founded in 1953, this organization works to inspire and educate people on improving their communities. Today, it leads initiatives such as the Great American Cleanup and America Recycles Day. 

Volunteer efforts funded by this organization are significant in slowing environmental harm. Annual events take place all across the country. The collective effort results in an impactful reduction in waste pollution in public places and along roadways.

However, most people are unfamiliar with the organization’s origin. When states began responding to the litter problem, the packaging and beverage industry worried the message would undermine their business models. Their profits demanded disposable cans and food packaging. So they founded Keep America Beautiful, which put the litter problem back on the people and out of the hands of corporations.

The packaging industry relied on convincing people they needed to buy more stuff and that these items would undergo a cycle of becoming trash almost immediately. Society had to be trained to dispose of single-use plastic. The bottle and can industry used the power of advertising to convince consumers that the things they were reusing, like glass bottles, were garbage. 

The Recycling Movement

Following the rise of disposable products, advertisers convinced Americans they needed convenience above all else. In the post-World War II era, marketers sold the American society the idea of microwaveable dinners they could consume in front of the TV. These companies also marketed plastic soda bottles that did not require reuse. In the 1970s, consumers became increasingly uncomfortable with the amount of waste sent to landfills. 

In response, Keep America Beautiful founded another organization, the National Center for Resource Recovery. With serious lobbying efforts, this initiative persuaded state legislators to favor recycling over reusing or reducing consumer goods. The Container Corporation of America invented and funded the phrase “reduce, reuse and recycle.”

By creating the recycling movement, corporations extended their influence across all levels of policy development. Most notably, they actively limited policies that would require corporations to take responsibility for their own waste management. Between 1989 and 1994, Keep America Beautiful spent over $14 million in lobbying efforts to limit recycling policies and let consumers bear responsibility.

The recycling movement has a dirty secret, too. For decades, anti-litter advertisements, including Keep America Beautiful’s infamous “Crying Indian” PSA video, have distracted consumers from making a real impact. Today, people are well-aware that recycling doesn’t always work. Corporations benefited from the recycling industry’s inefficiency, setting up recycling initiatives to fail from the beginning. 

Most of the recycling collected by municipalities in the last thirty years has been shipped to China, where it was most often dumped into the ocean or added to landfills with little to no environmental standards. 

Littering Corporations and the Circular Economy

The contemporary equivalent of the first anti-litter campaign is the corporate standard of a circular economy. Circular economies keep products and materials in continuous use, extending their lifetime and reducing the amount of waste generated from the system as a whole. Also referred to as a closed-loop system or cradle-to-cradle, the concept is only successful if it radically changes consumerism on a global scale — instead of making more plastic out of recycled materials. 

If you look at the fashion industry, companies like H&M are making sustainability efforts that drastically overstate their ability to combat pollution. Creating clothes out of recycled materials may sound like a great idea, but if the growth potential remains the same, the impact does not change. 

According to a study conducted by Greenpeace, Coca-Cola generates over  100 billion plastic bottles  annually. A so-called circular economy may devolve into a form of greenwashing that enables unsustainable business models to persist without making real change. There is a real concern that the concept of a circular economy may award companies for their “sustainability” efforts while simultaneously allowing them to continue polluting at the same rate.  

Recently, Coca-Cola has also announced a new initiative, launching their campaign of Coke bottles consisting of plastic from the sea. This concept might seem more optimistic if it were not for the fact that they are largely responsible for the plastic being in the sea in the first place. While the concept of a circular economy is promising, the way companies implement it will ultimately make the most significant impact.

Littering and the Individual  

Modern consumers are demanding transparency. More so than ever before, buyers are supporting companies that engage in sustainable practices. People are increasingly aware that recycling is not a single solution. Lifestyles that advocate for buying less, like minimalism, are becoming mainstream. The solution to the worldwide littering problem is to hold corporations responsible for the waste they create. By advocating for smarter consumption, individuals can make a big difference in how materials become trash.

Buyers are widely knowledgeable of the impacts of waste pollution and are making efforts to ensure waste is handled more sustainably. City-wide green initiatives reduce litter and encourage recycling. Online companies promote the purchasing of secondhand products like clothes. 

Individuals are managing their waste better while also holding the companies that create trash accountable. Organizations like Keep America Beautiful have helped in cleaning up the U.S.’s public places, sidewalks and roadways. Now it is time for them to take responsibility for the waste they generate before it reaches the consumer.

This article was originally published in the Conservation Folks blog on June 19, 2020.

Featured photograph provided by Boyce Duprey .

About the Author

Emily Folk is a sustainability and green tech writer. Her goal is to help people become more informed about the world around them and how they fit into it.

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Littering in Public Places: A Significant Issue Essay (Critical Writing)

Introduction.

Littering can be defined as the incorrect disposal of trash in places it does not belong. Littering in public places is a significant issue many communities face. People’s carelessness toward the surroundings they live in causes other citizens to suffer. According to Reisch’s characteristic of an ethical issue, littering in public places upholds all standards stated (2019). Public littering is a realistic and winnable issue that is possible to solve, moreover, it is immediate and clearly stated. A problem like this can be an opportunity for the community to unite; additionally, it is likely to be solved through collective action. Lastly, the population of a residential area is affected by public littering because it stands in the way of pleasant recreational activities for both children and adults.

The ultimate goal for the issue of littering in public places would be clearing out the community of any litter and preventing its appearance in the future. The biggest goal should be the termination of littering because even though it takes hard work to clean out the area from litter, the citizens cannot continuously do it. Therefore, making residents understand that future littering in public places will not only affect the community around but also them. Preventional punishments must be created to lower the possibility of people committing this irresponsible action.

A community organization should target community change efforts. As the residents of the specific community are the cause of this issue, its resolvent must target exactly them. Moreover, teamwork will allow a particular community not only to become closer but also to see the consequences of someone’s irresponsibility. After thoroughly analyzing the issue, the organization must create a plan for terminating it and essentially have several alternatives for it. After that, significant actions must be taken to prevent littering from happening again.

Potential allies for public littering issues may vary. The most obvious and realistic are the municipal services. The local government may help increase the number of trash bins in the public areas or town authorities can create penalties or fines for people who get caught littering in public places. In California, such penalties vary from fines to hours of community service (CENN). Such actions are radical but practical. Pro-ecology organizations can be potential allies for the initiative to terminate public littering. Such organizations may cooperate and create info boards that are to be set in public places like parks or bus stations, which inform on the harmful consequences of littering for the environment.

A strategic approach is the most critical component of solving a community-related issue. I think that competition can be of the most significant effect on solving public place littering. The local community will have to choose the most littered public areas and clean them together. The contest can depend on how clean the public area is after the cleaning; therefore, the winners get a prize. The prize can be the renovation of a local playground for children or the installment of a brand new bus stop, which will be up to the winning teams. In such a way, the area around will not only get rid of the rubbish but also become a more comfortable place to be. With the help of local government and eco-organizations, such places will obtain educational information and preventional matters. Collectively with these measures implemented, it is possible to minimize the probability of littering in public places and make a local community more appealing and pleasant to live in.

To conclude, littering in public places is a common issue for communities around the world; however, with appropriate collective actions, it is possible to prevent and terminate it. Directly involving the community to participate, asking local leaders to take action, and teaming up with other organizations can ultimately solve the issue of littering once and for all.

CENN. (n.d.). Reasons, Consequences and Possible Solutions of Littering. Web.

Reisch, M. (2019). Macro social work practice: working for change in a multicultural society . San Diego, CA: Cognella Academic Publishing.

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Using behavioural science to reduce littering : understanding, addressing and solving the problem of litter.

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The main objective of this article is to provide an overview of decision-making literature relevant to littering and to explain behavioural science be applied to tackling the problem of littering. We begin by explaining how littering is a commons dilemma and why, therefore, it is such a complex problem. We use this framework to show how policy-makers, social entrepreneurs and anyone else who wants to reduce littering, can approach the problem. We then move on to describing models and frameworks, taken from behavioural science theory and research, that can be helpful in designing effective anti-littering interventions. Finally, we apply all this knowledge and outline some ideas of such interventions.

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10 Ways to Reduce Plastic Pollution

Help keep our marine life from eating and swimming in garbage.

Rich Carey/Shutterstock

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While soaking up the relaxing cadence of crashing waves on the beach, no one wants to think about how the ocean has basically become garbage soup . But here’s the buzz-killing reality: There are millions of tons of debris floating around in that water—and most of it is plastic.

This constant barrage (the equivalent of 136 billion milk jugs each year, estimates a study published in the journal Science) poses a serious danger to marine life. Animals can get tangled up in this trash or ingest it—either because they mistake it as prey or because the plastic has been broken down into tiny particles by seawater.

Plastic, of course, is uniquely problematic because it’s nonbiodegradable and therefore sticks around for a lot longer (like up to 1,000 years longer) than other forms of trash. And we're not just talking about people dumping their garbage overboard. Around 80 percent of marine litter actually originates on land—either swept in from the coastline or carried to rivers from the streets during heavy rain via storm drains and sewer overflows.

So the best thing we can do to protect our waterways is try to keep as much plastic as possible out of the waste stream in the first place. The good news? There are many small ways you can have a big impact.

1. Wean yourself off disposable plastics.

Ninety percent of the plastic items in our daily lives are used once and then chucked: grocery bags, plastic wrap, disposable cutlery, straws, coffee-cup lids. Take note of how often you rely on these products and replace them with reusable versions. It only takes a few times of bringing your own bags to the store, silverware to the office, or travel mug to Starbucks before it becomes habit.

2. Stop buying water.

Each year, close to 20 billion plastic bottles are tossed in the trash. Carry a reusable bottle in your bag, and you’ll never be caught having to resort to a Poland Spring or Evian again. If you’re nervous about the quality of your local tap water, look for a model with a built-in filter.

3. Boycott microbeads.

Those little plastic scrubbers found in so many beauty products—facial scrubs, toothpaste, body washes—might look harmless, but their tiny size allows them to slip through water-treatment plants. Unfortunately, they also look just like food to some marine animals. Opt for products with natural exfoliants, like oatmeal or salt, instead.

4. Cook more.

Not only is it healthier, but making your own meals doesn’t involve takeout containers or doggy bags. For those times when you do order in or eat out, tell the establishment you don’t need any plastic cutlery or, for some serious extra credit, bring your own food-storage containers to restaurants for leftovers.

5. Purchase items secondhand.

New toys and electronic gadgets, especially, come with all kinds of plastic packaging—from those frustrating hard-to-crack shells to twisty ties. Search the shelves of thrift stores, neighborhood garage sales, or online postings for items that are just as good when previously used. You’ll save yourself a few bucks, too.

6. Recycle (duh).

It seems obvious, but we’re not doing a great job of it. For example, less than 14 percent of plastic packaging is recycled. Confused about what can and can’t go in the bin? Check out the number on the bottom of the container. Most beverage and liquid cleaner bottles will be #1 (PET), which is commonly accepted by most curbside recycling companies. Containers marked #2 (HDPE; typically slightly heavier-duty bottles for milk, juice, and laundry detergent) and #5 (PP; plastic cutlery, yogurt and margarine tubs, ketchup bottles) are also recyclable in some areas. For the specifics on your area, check out Earth911.org’s recycling directory .

7. Support a bag tax or ban.

Urge your elected officials to follow the lead of those in San Francisco, Chicago, and close to 150 other cities and counties by introducing or supporting legislation that would make plastic-bag use less desirable .

8. Buy in bulk.

Single-serving yogurts, travel-size toiletries, tiny packages of nuts—consider the product-to-packaging ratio of items you tend to buy often and select the bigger container instead of buying several smaller ones over time.

9. Bring your own garment bag to the dry cleaner.

Invest in a zippered fabric bag and request that your cleaned items be returned in it instead of sheathed in plastic. (And while you’re at it, make sure you’re frequenting a dry cleaner that skips the perc, a toxic chemical found in some cleaning solvents.)

10. Put pressure on manufacturers.

Though we can make a difference through our own habits, corporations obviously have a much bigger footprint. If you believe a company could be smarter about its packaging, make your voice heard. Write a letter, send a tweet, or hit them where it really hurts: Give your money to a more sustainable competitor.

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Home — Essay Samples — Environment — Littering — The Problem Of Illegal Dumping And Littering, And Solutions To It

The Problem of Illegal Dumping and Littering, and Solutions to It

• Categories: Littering Recycling Waste Management

About this sample

Words: 1329 |

Published: Mar 18, 2021

Words: 1329 | Pages: 3 | 7 min read

• Recycling conserves natural resources
• Recycling protects ecosystems
• Recycling protects people
• Recycling saves energy
• Recycling cuts climate changing carbon emission
• Recycling reduces landfill waste
• Recycling reduce incineration
• Recycling is cheaper than waste collection and disposal
• Recycling creates jobs.

Works Cited

• Chigbu, U. E. (2016). Waste management in African urban centres: A case study of Onitsha, Nigeria. Journal of Human Ecology, 54(1-2), 54-63.
• Dara, A. A. (2018). Environmental sanitation practices in developing countries: The case of Nigeria. International Journal of Environment and Pollution Research, 6(2), 35-44.
• Gopinath, M., & Pandey, S. (2015). Municipal solid waste management in India: From waste disposal to recovery of resources? Waste Management & Research, 33(6), 531-533.
• Karunakaran, K., & Balasubramani, R. (2017). Littering behavior in public places: A case study from Chennai city, India. International Journal of Environmental Studies, 74(2), 299-314.
• Krishna, S., & Kannan, S. (2018). Municipal solid waste management in developing countries: A review of current issues and practices. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 15(12), 2389-2406.
• Ojo, O. T., & Ojo, A. O. (2019). The role of education in promoting environmental cleanliness: A case study of Nigeria. Journal of Education and Practice, 10(1), 150-158.
• Osibanjo, O., & Adesanya, D. (2016). Understanding and promoting waste recycling behavior: A case study of Lagos, Nigeria. Journal of Human Ecology, 53(3-4), 183-192.
• Prasad, V., Kumar, A., & Patwardhan, A. (2017). Municipal solid waste management in India: A review. International Journal of Engineering Sciences & Research Technology, 6(10), 180-187.
• Tengku Ismail, T. H., & Zaman, M. M. (2019). Community participation in solid waste management: A case study in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Journal of the Society of Urban Ecology, 18(1), 91-106.
• Yazgan, S., & Yılmaz, A. (2020). Assessing the role of recycling in waste management: A case study from Istanbul, Turkey. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27(30), 37815-37825.

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