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LITTER CONTROL BEGINS WITH YOU
LITTER is anything that should be recycled or put in a trash can but instead ends up on sidewalks, streets, parking lots, roads, highways, the countryside or anywhere else it doesn't belong. It ranges from candy wrappers and beverage containers to cigarette butts and unwanted appliances. Fighting litter is a full-time job that requires each of us to play an important role.
· Always put your trash in a proper container; if one is not available, hold on to your trash until you find one.
· Carry a litterbag in your can and use it; grocery bags work great.
· Bring your own cup or use a reusable or refillable container for drinks.
· Reduce and reuse as much as you can before you recycle.
· Support community litter cleanups.
· Put you trash out for collection as close to pickup time as possible.
· Set a good example. DON'T BE A LITTERBUG; inform others about the costs and dangers of littering. |
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MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT LITTER
MYTH: Litter control is not important.
FACT: Litter may not be the most dramatic or exciting of the many problems that threaten the quality of our environment, but it is a problem which affects everyone in the community
MYTH: Only "certain types" of people litter.
FACT: "Litterbugs" can be found among people of every age, sex, race and ethnic origin, at every level of society and in all geographic locations
MYTH: Littering creates jobs.
FACT: LITTER COSTS MONEY. Last year Pennsylvania taxpayers paid nearly $10 million for roadside cleanup. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) spent this amount to clean up only the worst areas - roads with high litter accumulation. The money could have been used to construct Roadside Rests or Traveler Information Stops or for State road, bridge and pothole repair. Without its Adopt-A-Highway and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful volunteers, PennDOT estimates clean up would cost $50 million or more annually.
MYTH: No one notices litter.
FACT: LITTER DESTROYS THE BEAUTY OF A COMMUNITY. Tourism is an important part of Pennsylvania's economy. People come from all over the world to see the beauty of our countryside, towns and cities. When litter mars their enjoyment, Pennsylvania loses valuable tourist dollars.
MYTH: Litter doesn't hurt anyone.
FACT: Litter is a safety hazard. Litter is a breeding ground for fire and disease.
FACT: Litter impacts car insurance rates because thousands of auto accidents are litter-related.
FACT: Ingesting litter causes injury or death to thousands of pets, wild and farm animals.
FACT: Litter is a breeding ground for rats and disease-causing bacteria.
MYTH: Litter doesn't affect the economy.
FACT: Litter discourages economic development because it impacts real estate values. Good stores and important businesses will not locate in a community which lacks the pride to effectively control litter. |
| It is estimated that several trillion cigarette butts are littered worldwide every year. That's billions of cigarettes flicked, one at a time, on our sidewalks, beaches, nature trails, gardens, and other public places every single day. In fact, cigarettes are the most littered item in America and the world.
Cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate tow, NOT COTTON, and they can take decades to degrade. Not only does cigarette litter ruin even the most picturesque setting, but the toxic residue in cigarette filters is damaging to the environment, and littered butts cause numerous fires every year, some of them fatal.
Most people who litter their cigarettes either don't fully understand the consequences of their actions or they have rationalized the behavior. Once people know the truth, they will be much more hesitant to unthinkingly flick their cigarette butts on the ground.
We can be successful at eliminating this unnecessary nuisance by working together to get the facts out and to raise public awareness on the issue. |