Don’t be a Litterbug! How to Prevent Litter from Endangering Our Environment

Litter is preventable, so why is it still such a problem? Litter can be defined as those waste products that haven’t been disposed of properly. Litter pollutes our countryside, endangers natural wildlife on land and in the sea, will eventually decrease our property values, and destroys the natural beauty that surrounds us.

So in this day and age when we are so conscious of recycling our rubbish, why is litter still an issue? Ideally, to get a grip on the problem of littering we need to take personal responsibility and prevent it in the first place. We have to try our best to dispose of our waste properly. One of the ways to achieve this is to use a waste removal company such as Little Green Junk. 

There are some ways to prevent litter. We need to be mindful that it is not OK to toss out a cigarette butt, an empty soda can, or a beer bottle when we should be holding onto these until we get home. We may think that it is fine if we just do it this one time. But unfortunately, if everyone has this attitude and did it just once we would be swamped with tons of litter.

What are the facts about litter?

1. Most of the litter collected comes from food waste and packaging. Those disposable coffee cups that we pick up on the way to work, the takeouts for lunch and dinner, and the aluminum cans that our favorite cold beverages come in, make up most of the litter that causes the problem.
2. Littering is illegal. Most states and cities have strict laws in place and can arrest individuals for littering in the streets or for throwing litter out of a vehicle. So don’t break the law – you may be fined or even go to jail for dropping your litter. Look for the nearest trash can!
3. Unfortunately tons of litter ends up in our oceans, lakes, and rivers where it endangers aquatic life, destroys the surrounding natural beauty, and pollutes our drinking water. Litter also has a negative effect on the local wild and birdlife by polluting their water supplies. 
4. Litter is toxic to the environment when it decomposes and emits poisonous gases that are harmful to our atmosphere. Rotting foodstuffs are smelly and obnoxious, but they also attract vermin such as rats and harmful insects. 
5. Litter can have catastrophic results such as a wildfire that starts up from a carelessly discarded cigarette butt or a campfire that is not put out responsibly. This can result in thousands of acres of forest and farmland being burnt and houses being destroyed.

There are some activities that are considered littering, and some are more dangerous than others. So it is worth keeping them in mind to make sure that you are not guilty of any of these.

• Leaving rubbish like plastic cups and cans under your seat at a sports stadium.
• Leaving your newspaper or anything else on public transport.
• Dumping your rubbish next to an overflowing bin
• Not securing yard waste or other waste on the back of a trailer which allows it to fall off.
• Smashing a glass bottle on a footpath or road.
• Throwing out a cigarette butt anywhere, but especially into dry brush.
• Throwing anything out of a moving vehicle where it could hit a pedestrian or a cyclist.

As is apparent, litter pollutes our environment and tends to lessen our enjoyment of our public spaces. It is safe to say that if our communal areas are dirty and uncared for people will not use them.

Major sources of litter in the city come from commercial or residential garbage cans that do not have tight-fitting lids. Trash is then scattered by the wind or by animals such as dogs that forage through it.

Litter from trash bins at parking lots, fast food outlets, and convenience stores can be a problem if the bins are unmaintained and are not emptied regularly. Illegal dumping at these sites is also a problem, and it is up to business owners and managers to control this litter.

What can individuals do about it?

• While jogging, walking, hiking, biking, or camping make sure any litter that you generate is put in a bag and taken home with you where you can add it to your recycling. Otherwise, dispose of it properly at the next rest area or gas station.
• If you are transporting a load, make sure that it is tied down securely so that loose material does not blow off onto the streets or freeway during the journey.
• Prevent roadside littering by keeping your waste inside your car until you can dispose of it responsibly. This includes your beverage containers, food wrappings, and cigarette butts.
• Join programs such as the Litter Free School Zone Program which is part of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. This program encourages schools to keep their grounds litter free and teaches environmental protection methods and responsibility. This is combined with lessons on how litter affects people, animals, water quality, and economics.

Little Green Junk

Littering and illegal dumping go hand in hand. Make sure that any waste you have removed from your property is disposed of legally by hiring a professional company like Little Green Junk and not dumped indiscriminately. 

We are as concerned about the environment as you are. We recycle any waste we pick up where possible, and only use the landfill as the last resort.

Please contact us when you need any waste removed. We will give you a free, no-obligation quote.

We will come at a time that suits you even if it is after hours or over a weekend. Just point out what you want us to remove, and once we have loaded it, we will leave the area clean. We know that sometimes you may need an item of rubbish removed immediately which is why we offer a same-day junk removal service as well. 

We follow the strict rules that are in place with regard to disposing of any waste because it is for the benefit of all our citizens. We are committed to keeping our environment safe not only for us but for future generations.  

Call us at the following number: 717 988 0997. 

We look forward to hearing from you.

Email: inquiries@littlegreenjunk.com

www.littlegreenjunk.com