Many in America observe July 4 customs — picnics, parades and fireworks orchestrated to the “1812 Overture.”
And some keep a July 5 tradition. They walk a section of beach or circle a parking lot at a boat ramp to collect litter. The cleanups may be organized by a city or a nonprofit in some communities or they may be conducted by individuals equipped with gloves, garbage bags and litter sticks.
Litter increases on holiday weekends on Anna Maria Island, but litter is a problem every day, here and elsewhere. We’ve plagued the planet with their litter probably since the beginning of our time and today, according to a new Keep America Beautiful study, about 90% of people in the United States agree litter is a problem in their community.
Letters to The Islander and complaints at Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach city halls support the public opinion survey. Even when parking or tourism is said to be the concern, litter usually is a factor in the complaint: Ban parking on residential roads because people throw their garbage in our yards. Stop bringing so many tourists to AMI because they trash the beach.
But why do people litter?
KAB’s study provides an understanding of the behavior of litters as well as documents the quantity, composition and sources of litter across the United States. The report follows up a 2009 study and builds on a history of science-based research started in 1969 by KAB, which has 700 affiliates, including our own Keep Manatee Beautiful.
Some positive findings in the study:
- The amount of roadside litter is down 54% since 2009.
- The amount of fast-food packaging, soda containers and construction debris dumped along roadsides decreased since 2009.
- The cigarette butt continues to be the most littered item but the number of littered butts is down 70% since 2009.
Some negative findings:
- Littered beer containers, water bottles and cardboard increased since 2009.
- There was twice as much litter from alcoholic beverage containers as from non-alcoholic beverage containers.
- Each mile of road or waterway in the United States contains about 2,000 pieces of litter.
“Litter” is improperly managed waste.
And “littering” is a person’s behavior that results in misplaced waste.
To deal with litter in America — or just on AMI — requires changing behavior but also changing infrastructure, business operations, services and legislation.
KAB’s research found that states where deposits must be paid on bottles outperformed other states in reducing litter. Take a cue, Florida.
KAB asked in a survey, “When have you seen people litter?” and about 59% of respondents answered, “When there is no trash can nearby.”
I can tell you, I’ve been in public spaces on the island and walked many steps in unsuccessful searches for trash or recycling cans.
And take a look at the litter along the Palma Sola Causeway, the Kingfish Boat Ramp or Bayfront Park on a Sunday evening. A lot of what becomes litter often was garbage bagged and set beside an already overflowing trash can.
Keep America Beautiful calculated that there are about 50 billion pieces of litter on the ground in the United States.
So if everyone ventured outside and picked up 152 pieces of litter, there’d be no litter left and we’d have a more beautiful America, but that’s provided we invest in the education needed to change behavior and the infrastructure needed to accommodate more conscientious citizens.
About Keep America Beautiful
The nonprofit, established in 1953, aims to improve and beautify communities, with a goal to end littering and improve recycling.
The affiliate Keep Manatee Beautiful conducts regular cleanups on Anna Maria Island, as well as promotes special events and activities, including National and Florida Arbor Day observances.