Inside City Hall - Beautification Department
Litter Prevention
Did You Know?
• 80% of all littering is accidental. For example, it flies out of truckbeds or blows away from trash set at the curb for pickup.
• Many types of roadside trash take years, if not hundreds of years, to disintegrate. While a piece of rope or a wool sock will biodegrade after about a year, plastic six-pack rings may stay around for 450 years.
• In Louisiana, we spend about $10 million annually to clean up roadside trash in the state, and local governments spend thousands to keep litter off miles of locally-maintained roads.
• Litter detracts from our state's beauty, decreases property values and, over time, could affect.
Tips For Preventing Litter In Monroe
Why Do People Litter?
Litter is misplaced, improperly handled waste. In a three-year research project, Keep America Beautiful, Inc. found that people litter for one of three reasons. They feel it's ok to litter:
• Where they feel no sense of ownership or pride for the property
• Where someone else will clean up after them
• Where litter has already accumulated and it is okay to add more
Where Does It Come From?
Although motorists and pedestrians are most often blamed for litter, Keep America Beautiful, Inc. identified seven sources that contribute to the problem. They are:
• Commercial dumpster
• Household trash handling
• Construction sites
• Uncovered vehicles (especially truck beds)
• Loading docks
• Motorists
• Pedestrians
From these sources, litter is carried in every direction by wind, water, and traffic. It moves until trapped by a curb, wall, fence, a row of trees, a building, or other stationary object. Once trapped, litter becomes not only an eyesore, but an invitation for people to add more.
The Cost Of Litter
Litter is a costly problem. City, Parish, and state highway departments spend millions of dollars and many hours each year cleaning up litter - money and time that could be used for more needed services. Cleaner communities also have a better chance of attracting new businesses than those where litter is common.
10 Ways That You Can Prevent Litter
There are many ways that you can help make your community cleaner. Here are 10 suggestions:
1. Set an example by not littering.
2. Pick up one piece of litter every day.
3. Teach others the proper way to dispose of their trash. Show them the difference between a clean area and an area spoiled by litter, and stress why it's important to put trash in proper containers.
4. 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.
5. Carry a litter bag in your car. Ask local businesses to buy car litter bags and distribute them to customers. Encourage them to print their names and an environmental message on the bag.
6. Ask your neighbors to join you in cleaning up one public area where litter has accumulated.
7. If you or a member of your family is involved in a civic group, scouting, or recreational sports program, encourage the group to become involved in a cleanup.. Or have the group "adopt" a spot and maintained it on a regular basis.
8. Find out how you can plant and maintain flowers along a curb or sidewalk. People litter less where areas have been beautified.
9. Ask business owners to check their dumpsters every day to make sure tops and side doors are closed. If the business has a loading dock, ask them to keep it clean, and to put out a receptacle for employees to use.
10. If you own a construction or hauling business, make sure your trucks are covered when transporting material to and from sites. Use snow fencing around construction or demolition sites to prevent debris from being blown into other areas. Put trash containers on every floor for construction workers.
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