By John E. Weare, Keep Alliance Beautiful
ALLIANCE, Neb. - Keep America Beautiful’s 2026 National Litter Study offers a panoramic view. Reading the summary report it is comforting to know there is a majority of Americans (94 percent) that “view litter as a problem in the United States”. As we celebrate our country’s 250th birthday this year the occasion has also been a catalyst in communities large and small to keep cigarette butts and single use plastic from marring the “purple mountain majesties” and “the fruited plain”.
When people view an issue as a problem AND feel strongly enough to take action the result is progress toward a solution. If people did not feel strongly about litter there would have not been a 34 percent decline since the 2020 study (34 percent along roadways and surface waterways).
Although the majorities are smaller, most also consider litter a problem in their state (90 percent) and community (76 percent). However, compared to other discussion topics, the study notes that litter is not at the top of the list. When surveyed last year the cost of groceries clearly dominated conversation at 76 percent. Artificial intelligence and taxes came in at 53 and 52 percent, respectively. Litter shows up in the bottom half of the bar graph at 28 percent, 24 percent of rural discussions. It did outrank identity theft, Taylor Swift and K-Pop.
Curiously the same page of the summary features a graph showing “The last time I personally littered was . . .” though nothing in the same vein charting “The last time I picked up litter was...” The results, of course, assume honest answers. Twenty-six percent of respondents replied that they had “never littered in my life” compared to five percent who reported littering in the past week. The balance of answers was led by people who last littered more than a year ago – 35 percent, followed by within the past year (16 percent), past few months (10 percent) and past month (8 percent). Personally, I would have said the past month. I blame not being able to catch a receipt in the western Nebraska wind.
During the initial look at the numbers at the Keep America Beautiful summit, presenters emphasized “a consistent complacency” that must be answered with “personal responsibility."
They found nine in ten people said, “It’s my personal responsibility to help reduce litter.”
Obstacles mentioned included convenience as “We ask who job it is,” said Wendy Salomon, managing director, The Harris Poll. Keep Alliance Beautiful conducts our own litter index surveys as a Keep America Beautiful affiliate. These counts do not factor into the national study, yet the data is useful to gauge the cleanliness of our Box Butte County communities. Despite favorable results, I feel we can do better. Maybe it has been reading and writing about the topic, but there seems to be more litter around this spring – both recently dropped and trash that found a new home weeks, months or even years ago.
“What might motivate people to participate in a cleanup” other than money?, Salomon asked the audience. She answered, “That sense of community has potential to bring people together.”
There is still time to marshal local efforts to be part of Keep America Beautiful’s Greatest American Cleanup with a goal to make neighborhoods cleaner by Independence Day to the tune of removing 25 billion pieces of litter from parks, waterways and public spaces, the website says. Of course there could have already been a number of cleanups this spring that have not been on my radar. I commend individuals, families and groups that have participated.
KAB volunteers and staff will also be choosing locations for regular litter removal removal this spring and summer. Let us know about your cleanup events. For information or supplies, such as bags, gloves and grabbers call our office at 308-762-1729.