Litter is misplaced waste. It blows in the wind, accumulates along kerbs and fences and floats through water systems. Most littering occurs within 5 metres of a garbage bin and 80% of marine litter originates on land! Studies have determined that people generally litter because it is easy to do so, they feel no ownership of the property, or mistakenly believe someone is being paid to clean up after them. Often people don’t even consider the item to be litter — such as food scraps and cigarette butts.

There is no conclusive evidence that those who litter fit into any demographic category. The many websites, studies, and organisations dedicated to studying and solving litter problems make no mention of blaming products. Condemning a product and removing it from use simply because of its potential to become litter is an unrealistic approach to the problem. Under those circumstances, the following items found during litter clean-up days would no longer be available to consumers: appliances, bottles, car parts, fishing line, shoes, syringes and other medical waste, furniture and toys. For some amazing findings on litter in New South Wales, click here.

In a recent Northern Daily Leader (Tamworth, NSW, December 5, 2005) article,“Troy Says It’s a Sin Not to Use a Bin,” country music singer Troy Cassar-Daly reinforced the message of personal responsibility in solving the litter problem. According to Troy, 50,000 people’s rubbish can be terrible for the environment.

The only true solution to litter is to change the behaviour of those who litter and enforce the laws that prohibit this behaviour.