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Litter Study

Giveaway Time

Cleanup Kit Giveaway

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Giveaway TimeWe’re excited to announce that it’s our fall Cleanup Kit Giveaway time!

The change of seasons is welcome to many, with cooler temperatures, and less humidity.  But unfortunately, one thing that doesn’t change is the need to clean up litter left in the landscape.

According to Keep America Beautiful’s recent Litter Study, nearly 50 billion pieces of litter along United States roadways and waterways. Overall, there was more litter near waterways (25.9 billion pieces on 10.7 million miles) than on roadways (23.7 billion pieces on 8.3 million miles) though, proportionally, roadway and waterway litter represent similar quantities of the total litter items discarded nationwide (47.8 percent and 52.2 percent, respectively).

Keep America Beautiful encourages all individuals to pick up 152 pieces of litter. Why 152? Using information from the litter study, they determined that if everyone made the individual action of picking up 152 pieces of litter (all at once) there would be no litter on the ground until someone littered again. #152andYou

We sincerely appreciate those who continue to make the effort to pick up litter from roadsides, parks, and waterways.  And we want to help by getting you to tools you need to safely pick up litter.

Each Cleanup Kits includes:

    • 2 sturdy litter grabbers,
    • 2 safety vests,
    • 2 pairs of work glove,
    • other goodies as available!

Enter here: Cleanup Kit Giveaway Entry Form from now until September 30th!

We’ll draw 10 names from all the entries and give away 10 Cleanup Kits the first week in October — just in time for “Virginia is for Lovers Not Litter” month!

Subscribe to our eNews so you can stay up to date with this Giveaway and others!

Black kitten in pumpkin

It’s Scary!

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Black kitten in pumpkinIt’s frightening out there, and I’m not talking about the ghosts and goblin Halloween decorations.  It’s the menacing amount of litter in the landscape – the creepy discarded face masks in the parking lot, the chilling fast food wrappers, and the daunting task of cleaning it all up!

Why bother, you ask? Studies show that people are less likely to throw litter into clean, attractive, and beautified areas. (Keep America Beautiful 2009 Litter Study)

What can you do?  A lot!

  • The month of October has been declared “Lovers Not Litter” month for the Commonwealth – and it’s official: check out the Governor’s Proclamation!  We’re partnering with VDOT to spread the word that October is a great month to get outside and pick up litter, and you can help wherever you live or work. Take the pledge, and report the litter that you cleaned up.  Or play a fun game!
  • We give away cleanup kits to groups and individuals as time and funding allow.  We just completed our Summer giveaways, and our cupboards are bare.  We’re hosting a kit assembly day to get restocked.  If you’re in the Richmond area on Wednesday, October 27th, we need 10 volunteers.  You must sign up to be able to participate.
  • Volunteer with other groups to clean up! Check our Events Calendar for your what’s scheduled near you.  Also, we have several affiliate organizations across the state, take a look at their websites to see if there’s an activity going on that interests you!
  • Adopt-a-Highway!  It’s free, and you’ll be given supplies for litter cleanups, and when you do your part you’ll get a cool blue sign with your name, or your group’s name, or the name of someone you’d like to dedicate your efforts to.  To get started, simply contact your Adopt-a-Highway coordinator, call 1-800-FOR-ROAD (1-800-367-7623) or send an e-mail to [email protected].  You can learn more about the program here.

So don’t be a scaredy-cat, get out there, take a bag or bucket with you, and safely pick up some litter!

Volunteers

National Litter Study

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VolunteersKeep America Beautiful, our parent Affiliate, recently released the results of their 2020 National Litter Study, conducted by Burns & McDonnell, a leading environmental engineering firm.  The 2020 Keep America Beautiful Litter Study is the most comprehensive study of litter in America.  It is a follow up to the landmark 2009 study, which builds on a history of science-based litter research started by Keep America Beautiful in 1969.

How do they know how much litter there is, you ask?  They counted it — during a pandemic!  240 roadway sites, 189 waterway, 181 non-roadway, 126 behavioral sites.  The study used world class methodology and was led by academics, professional social scientists, and leading researchers with the support of corporate America, foundations, and individuals.  You can read the entire report here.

In a nutshell, the litter problem is significant — 50 billion (with a “b”) pieces!  And Americans know it.  90% responded that they believe litter is a problem in their state.  On the brighter side, the problem of litter is improving.   Since the 2009 Litter Study, there’s been a 54% reduction of litter on roadways.

The great majority of litter was smaller in size but, at 6 billion pieces, larger items were both prevalent and highly visible. Most litter (43.6 billion pieces or 87.9 percent) across the United States was four inches or smaller in size. However, larger and often more visible litter still represented a significant quantity (6.0 billion pieces or 12.1 percent) of litter.

The Keep America Beautiful 2020 National Litter Study provides the first national estimate of the scale and scope of the PPE (gloves and masks) litter problem. The Study estimates 207.1 million PPE items were littered along United States roadways and waterways. The Study estimates that much of that PPE litter (127.4 million pieces) lies along U.S. waterways. PPE gloves represented 72.1 percent of the PPE littered.

Cigarette butts continue to be the single most littered item in the United States, even though cigarette butt litter has declined dramatically since 2009. Plastic films, both general use films and food-packaging films, such as candy wrappers or snack bags, represent the second and third most littered items in America.

There is twice as much litter from alcoholic beverage containers as from non-alcoholic beverage containers. Beer container litter is up 27 percent from 2009. In terms of the most frequently littered items, beer containers and single-serve wine and liquor containers (e.g., 50 ml minis and nips) are both ranked ahead of any non-alcoholic beverage product (e.g., soda, water, juice, tea & coffee).

Americans understand that litter has a strong negative impact on their communities. Large majorities of U.S. residents (75 to 97 percent) recognize that litter negatively affects the environment, waterways, property taxes, home values, tourism and businesses, quality of life, and health and safety in their communities.

The study determined that there were 152 items of litter for each U.S. resident. Roadway and waterway litter items per capita were comparable.  While still a large number, 152 pieces of litter per person in the United States is a number that residents can grasp and provides a tangible goal that every individual can strive to help eliminate.

Everyone, whether they litter or not, can be part of the solution to ending litter.  Let us know when you’ve picked up your 152 pieces! #152andYou

KAB Litter Study

Roadway Litter Down 54% Since 2009

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Keep Virginia Beautiful is part of a network of 700 state and community-based affiliates of Keep America Beautiful®, who recently announced the summary of its 2020 study on litter in America.

The Keep America Beautiful 2020 National Litter Study provides a detailed understanding of the quantity, composition, and sources of litter across the United States. The organization’s 2020 study is a follow up to its landmark 2009 study, which builds on a history of science-based litter research started by Keep America Beautiful in 1969.

Key findings include:

  • Nearly 50 billion pieces of litter along U.S. roadways and waterways
  • Slightly more litter along waterways (25.9B) than roadways (23.7B)
  • 152 items for each U.S. resident
  • More than 2,000 pieces of litter per mile (both roadway and waterway)
  • 90% of people surveyed believe litter is a problem in their state
  • 6 billion pieces more than 4 inches in size
  • Most littered item remains cigarette butts, although this litter is down almost 70%
  • 207.1M PPE items littered

Keep America Beautiful retained Burns & McDonnell, a leading environmental engineering firm, to conduct its 2020 Study, which has four components: Public Attitudes Survey, Visible Litter Survey, Behavioral Observations Survey, and Financial Cost of Litter Survey (ongoing).

Dr. Helen Lowman, Keep America Beautiful President and CEO said, “I am thrilled to continue the history of Keep America Beautiful as the leader in litter research in the United States, and methodology that has now been used around the world.  This data will help inform our programs for years to come addressing both litter on the ground and the act of littering.”

Sponsors of the Keep America Beautiful 2020 National Litter Study include dozens of individuals, corporations, industry groups, and foundations highlighting our belief in the strength of bringing everyone to the table. The largest supporters include Altria, American Beverage Association, American Chemistry Council, Dow, Food Packaging Institute, Garver Hilyard Black Foundation, National Association of Convenience Stores, Plastics Industry Association, and Santa Fe Natural Tobacco.

The full summary of the Keep America Beautiful® report is available here.

The good news is that litter IS solvable!  The 54% reduction in roadside litter since 2009 is phenomenal, and the 2009 study shows a 61% reduction since 1969.  We can work together to conquer the litter problem!  Visit our website for ways you can be involved, and take the pledge to put litter and recyclables in their place, reduce-reuse-refuse-recycle, and teach others to do the same!