Keep America Beautiful recently released the results of ”Litter in America,” the largest study ever conducted about litter and littering behavior in the U.S. The study identifies and dissects the causes, effects and costs of litter in America, and is the first major national survey of its kind in the U.S. in 40 years.

Behavioral studies observed nearly 10,000 individuals in 130 locations in 10 states. Quantitative surveys measured roadway litter in GIS-selected samplings of 45 metropolitan areas nationwide, as well as 180 non-roadway sample locations.

KAB commissioned this series of studies in 2008 and 2009 with funding from Philip Morris USA, an Altria Company. Behavioral research was conducted by Action Research, Inc., led by Wes Schultz, Professor of Psychology at California State University. The visible litter and litter cost study was conducted by Mid Atlantic Solid Waste Consultants, LLC, led by Steven Stein and John Culbertson.

>Downloadable PDFs of the Executive Summary and research studies are available here.