How Does Litter Harm the Environment?

According to the Keep America Beautiful (KAB) organization, more than 51 billion pieces of litter land on roadways across the United States every year. In addition to monumental cleanup costs, this pileup of litter harms the environment, including the earth's natural resources and ecosystems.

The Facts

• A 2009 KAB report indicates that individuals litter almost everywhere, including roadways, retail centers, recreational areas and residential locations. Cigarette butts are the most littered item along U.S. roadways. Paper products and plastic items are also abundant. Motorists and pedestrians are the largest litterers, and a higher tendency exists for people to litter in places where litter is already visible.

Cost

• The direct financial costs of litter may be causing harm to the economy. According to KAB, litter cleanup costs the U.S. more than $11.5 billion every year. This cost is shared among private businesses, government agencies and educational institutions. In addition, the presence of litter may harm property values.

Water

• Litter on the ground often finds its way to the waterways. Litter can clog up storm drains and harm the water quality. Since the majority of litter don't easily break down, it eventually finds its way to the rivers, lakes and oceans. An article in the U.K. newspaper "The Independent" cites a giant "soup" of debris in the Pacific Ocean that stretches from off the coast of California almost to the shores of Japan.

Wildlife

• Litter in the oceans and on land become harmful to birds, fish, mammals and reptiles that may get caught up in the debris or unintentionally ingest harmful objects. A Greenpeace International report states that as many as 267 marine animal species are known to have suffered from entanglement or ingestion of debris in the oceans, including fish, seabirds, seals, sea lions, turtles and even whales.

Human Environment

• Litter also directly affects the areas where humans live. Litter not only makes neighborhoods look bad -- bringing down property values and discouraging visitors to local businesses -- but it can build up and attract insects and rodents, which bring carry germs and disease. Litter, such as broken glass or scrap metal, can also cause physical harm. Placing waste in waste receptacles takes minimal effort but goes a long way in keeping the environment clean.