Litter Facts

• Every day the average person walks or drives by 12,000 items of litter.
• 18 million items are dropped along Ohio roads each year. That equals over 8,500 pieces of litter along every road mile. 
• Ohio spends over $50 million dollars each year to clean up litter. 
• The City of Cincinnati spends over 2 million dollars each year to clean up litter. 
• 71% of the litter along streets and highways is caused by persons under 35 years of age. 
• 77% of all the litter along streets and highways is caused by males. 
• 58% of litter is deliberate.
• 42% of litter is accidental, resulting from spills and uncovered trucks. 
• 25% of deliberate litter is fast food cartons, cups, and napkins. 
• 12% of deliberate litter is snack food wrappers. 
• 5% of deliberate litter is beer and soft drink containers. 
• Litter causes accidents and injuries, and lowers property values. 
• Litter degrades the environment, is harmful to wildlife and reduces water quality. 
• Litter ranks high as an objectionable form of pollution in surveys and opinion polls. 
• People litter because they believe it is socially acceptable. 
• People litter because they feel someone else will clean up after them, or in areas where litter has already accumulated. 

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