Prevent Litter

Litter begets litter.  Research has shown that one of the best ways to prevent litter is to remove litter immediately.  Leaving litter on your lawn or around your business gives people the impression that no one cares and they will be more likely to litter.    People are less likely to litter if the area is clean.
 
 According to Keep America Beautiful research, 4% of the population is responsible for 81% of the intentional litter.  Intentional litter happens when an individual litters with purpose-- a person throws a soda can in a planter downtown on purpose.  Unintentional litter is litter that happens when individuals do not mean to litter--- a receipt is blown out of person's hand and they cannot retrieve it.

 

 

Litter Prevention for Individuals

Here are a list of the top things you can do to prevent litter as an individual.
  1. Bag your trash.  Bag all your household trash and tie the bags closed prior to placing them in your dumpster.  This prevents litter when containers are knocked over in the wind and are emptied by garbage trucks.
  2. Open one car door at a time.  Wyoming wind can create suction when you open several car doors at once--- this will pull papers and trash out of your car.  Opening one door at a time can help prevent this unintentional litter.
  3. Put heavy objects on napkins, paper plates, and other blowable items when having an outdoor picnic.  Better yet, secure items in containers with lids and open them when getting what you need.
  4. Ditch the plastic bags.  Get a reusable grocery bag and never worry about the wind sucking the bag off your shopping items.  If you don't want to ditch the plastic bag, tie the bags shut before leaving the store.
  5. Use a pocket ashtray or cupholder ashtray for cigarette butts.  Everyone knows that cigarette butts are litter too.  Put your butt in the can.