Litter
The waste is objects, often man-made, such as aluminum cans, paper cups, food wrappers, cardboard boxes or plastic bottles, but also large and hazardous items of rubbish such as tires, electrical appliances, electronics, batteries and large industrial containers are sometimes dumped in isolated locations, such as national forests and other public lands.
Litter can exist in the environment for long periods of time before decomposition and be transported over large distances into the world's oceans.
[1] Estimates of the required time for cigarette butts to break down vary, ranging from 5 to 400 years for complete degradation.
[4] Population levels, traffic density and proximity to waste disposal sites are factors known to correlate with higher litter rates.
According to a study by the Dutch organization VROM, 80% of people claim that "everybody leaves a piece of paper, tin or something, on the street behind".
[15] The same report also cites unavailability of curbside trash and recycling service, shortage of enforcement, and habit as possible causes.
The model was proposed by Chris Sibley and James Liu and differentiates between two types of littering: active and passive.
Hazardous materials encapsulated within tires and other items of illegally dumped rubbish can leach into water sources, contaminate the soil and pollute the air.
[25] When tires are burned, they can smolder for long periods of time, emitting hundreds of chemical compounds that pollute the air causing respiratory illnesses.
In addition, a spark or a lightning flash can start a fire if it strikes litter such as a paper bag or cardboard box.
[26] Discarded dangerous goods, chemicals, tires, sharps waste and pathogens resulting from litter can cause accidental harm to humans.
Cigarette butts and filters are a threat to wildlife and have been found in the stomachs of fish, birds and whales, who have mistaken them for food.
Other instances where animals could be harmed by litter include broken glass lacerating the paws of dogs, cats, and other small mammals.
Organic litter in large amounts can cause water pollution and lead to algal blooms.
[29][30] According to Keep Britain Tidy in 2013, Cadbury chocolate wrappers, Walkers crisp packets and Coca-Cola cans were the three top brands that were the most common pieces of rubbish found in UK streets.
[31] Public waste containers or street bins are provided by local authorities to be used as a convenient place for the disposal and collection of litter.
Some local authorities will only take responsibility for rubbish that is placed in the bins, which means that litter remains a problem.
In North America, Adopt a Highway programs are popular, in which companies and organizations commit to cleaning stretches of road.
In Japan, a study used Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map areas of dumping based on site characteristics.
Throughout human history, people have disposed of unwanted materials onto streets, roadsides, in small local dumps or often in remote locations.
Anti-littering legislation seems to have existed in ancient Greece, as is evidenced by a road marker discovered on the island of Paros, bearing the inscription "whoever drops their litter on the street owes 51 drachmae to whoever wishes to claim them".
RCRA gives authority to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate and enforce proper hazardous waste disposal.
[51] Many countries now have laws that require that household hazardous waste be deposited in a special location rather than sent to landfills with regular refuse.
