Information AboutLitter |
For other meanings of litter, see Litter (disambiguation) . Litter is a Waste Type consisting of any tangible Personal Property which has been unlawfully scattered and or abandoned in a public place (usually outdoors). Tangible property abandoned in a private space is not considered litter. Litter is often caused by careless or accidental treatment of Debris and Waste as opposed to proper disposal. The American Public Works Association standardized the term litter in the mid- foam and plastic. The “item most littered… worldwide” is the Cigarette Butt , at 4.5 billion pieces, yet the “largest volume component of litter,” accounting for 40 to 60 percent of total volume since the 1980s, is beverage container litter. Common, severe litter includes candy and gum wrappers, paper towels, food wastes, chip bags, aluminum and steel beer/soda cans, leather, rubber, clothing, textiles, wood, glass and metal projectiles, blown Tires and treads, springs, vehicular and brake parts, drive shafts and Bumper s. According to the Federal Highway Administration , litter tends to be found “…near intersections or crossroads, where a stop or reduced speed is required, and near beer and package stores, farmers markets, shopping centers, beaches, fast food places and solid waste dumps.” While grade-school definitions of litter often start and end with lunchroom refuse or similar, most official definitions of litter are far broader than the general public are taught. Most states and countries specifically define " Election Litter " or an equivalent as the unlawful placement of political propaganda on public property. In Europe the pasting of advertising paraphernalia on public buildings is called Fly-posting and is a form of "scattering" unlawful materials on public property. The Supreme court of the United States has complicated the enforcement of litter laws where litter is used as a form of propaganda. According to Georgia's Litter. It Costs You campaign, the most commonly found items in roadside litter clean-ups are cigarette butts, snack/take out packaging, plastic, and paper. In a statewide roadside litter survey, two thirds of the litter found along roadways was the result of negligent litter; litter from trash-hauling vehicles, unsecured loads, or construction sites. Litter. It Costs You. WHO'S TO BLAME FOR LITTER? .]] Litter is often blamed on certain sections of society like public drunkenness and nakedness. Some commonly-blamed groups are customers of Fast Food outlets, smokers and young adults. Studies show that areas which are allowed to remain dirty are prone to becoming dirtier, i.e. litter gives "permission" to litter. There are also natural causes such as high winds disturbing litter containers. Litter can be a result of lack of education. Francis McAndrew's ''Environmental Psychology'', a textbook used by scholars to explain littering by humans, reports that women, youth, rural dwellers and live-alone persons litter more than men, seniors, urban dwellers and multi-person households.McAndrews, Francis. (1993) ''Environmental Psychology''. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole. Picnickers, hunters, fishermen, campers, motorboaters, water skiers, careless Pedestrians , motorists, truck drivers, construction and loading dock workers, are prime litter providers. Prototype research by the state of Texas "profiled" litterers being males, youth under age 25, non-whites, smokers, and frequenters to bars, parties and fast food restaurants. These research results are replicated by many State governments to tailor and enforce litter eradication programs.
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