How to Put a Stop to Littering

About 85% of littering is the result of individual attitudes. Changing individual

behavior is key to preventing litter.

Nearly one in five, or 17%, of all disposals observed in public spaces were
littering. The remainder (83%) was properly discarded in a trash or recycling receptacle.

A strong contributor to littering is the prevalence of existing litter. About 15% of

littering is affected by the environment. Litter on the ground begets more litter.

Attitude Change Process

For over 30 years, KAB has successfully pursued a behavioral approach to reduce littering
and increase community greening and recycling. The five-step KAB Attitude Change
System, developed through research and field-testing, was designed for KAB with Dr.
Robert F. Allen of the Human Resources Institute. Dr. Allen and his team of behavioral
scientists identified the need to change behavior as the only effective way to achieve
lasting, sustainable improvement in community quality of life. KAB teaches this five-step
attitude change process as a primary tool for the development and implementation of
culture changing programs and projects.

Get the Facts

Involve the People

Develop a Plan

Focus on Results

Provide Positive Reinforcement

KAB's "Pressure Points" for Behavior Change

Traditional approaches to litter, most particularly clean-up projects, work only to remove
the litter and do little to prevent its recurrence. KAB attempts to deal with the root
cause of the problemlittering behavior. Changing attitudes and influencing behavior are
brought about most effectively using a combination of methods:

Education Education and awareness are bedrock tools of behavior change. Think
broadly in your approach. Consider tie-ins with public education conducted through
youth programs, civic clubs, Chambers of Commerce, businesses, and government
agencies.

Ordinances Changing public policy through codes, laws, or ordinances is one way
to change behaviors around quality of life and environmental issues.

Enforcement Consistent and effective enforcement of existing codes, laws, and

ordinances helps change behavior and reinforce the commitment to a cleaner, greener
community. Work closely with local law enforcement, and be sure citizens are aware of
the laws.

Tools and Resources This can include such tangible things as a litter pick up
tools, sanitation collection vehicles, graffiti removal equipment, litter or ash

receptacles, recycling bins, or a pocket ashtray. It also includes strategies that

encourage individuals to make different long-term choices, blending knowledge from
social marketing with behavior change tools.

What You Can Do to Prevent Litter

Changing a common behavior, like littering, starts with you. Each person must accept
responsibility for their actions and influence the actions of others around them at home,
at school, in your place of business, and in the community at large. Start with these
actions:

Choose not to litter. Make the commitment now to join with thousands of other
Americans to not be a litter-bug.

Educate friends and family on the litter laws in Tennessee.

Remind others not to litter and why.

Get a litter bag or portable ash receptacles to share.

Volunteer in your community to help prevent and cleanup litterfrom cigarette

butts to illegal dumps. Find a Keep America Beautiful affiliate in your community
Find out more ways youand otherscan help prevent litter in your community.

Every Individual

Set an example for others, especially family, co-workers, friends, and children by
using trash and/or recycling receptacles and not littering.

Always have available a litter bag in your car.

If you are a smoker, carry and use a portable or pocket ashtray.

If you see litter, pick it up.

Motorists

Carry and use a car litterbag. When these are full, empty them into a trash
and/or recycling receptacle.

Use a car ashtray or portable ashtray to dispose of cigarette butts and lighting
material.

Do not throw any litter out of vehicle windows.

Smokers

Before you light up, identify where you will dispose of your cigarette waste when
you finish smoking. Use trash and ash receptacles, including pocket ashtrays.

Carry a pocket ashtray all the time or have a portable ashtray with you as you
leave your home, office, or car.
Encourage fellow smokers to be responsible for their cigarette litter, too.

Pet Owners

Pick up after your dog as you walk through your neighborhood. Use newspaper
delivery bags, "scoopers", or other easy-to-use methods to clean up after your pet.

Be sure to put pet waste in trash receptacles and not recycling bins.

Take responsibility for your pet and his/her actions.

Community Residents

Make sure your trash cans have lids that can be securely fastened or use bungee
cords to hold them in place.

Secure all bags and use twine to secure loose trash for curbside trash collection.

Tie paper into bundles before placing into curbside recycling bins.

Government Leaders

Provide litter bags for all government-owned vehicles. And provide tarps to any
government vehicles that may transport items that could become litter.

Identify "transition points" at all government-owned buildings; place ash and trash
receptacles at these points and commit to proper maintenance of the receptacles.

Leading by example will encourage building owners and business managers to

place ash receptacles at points outdoors where their employees and/or customers smoke.
Consider adopting building standards to encourage adequate disposal containers.

Distribute portable or pocket ashtrays and litter bags.

Educate citizens about individual responsibility for proper waste disposal.

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