The Environmental Impact of Littering: Causes, Consequences and Solutions

By: Hamzah Isa Galadima

Abstract

Littering is a huge problem in Nigeria, and it's happening all over the world. In this article, we will examine the reasons behind littering, explore its environmental impact, and discuss potential solutions to address this issue. Littering poses a detrimental impact on the environment, affecting wildlife, ecosystems, public health, and the overall aesthetic appeal of an area. Therefore, preserving the cleanliness and sustainability of our surroundings necessitates addressing the underlying causes that lead to littering.

The following are the major causes of littering in our society.

1. Sight of litter on a spot:

Research has demonstrated a connection between the existence of litter in the area and the deliberate throwing of litter in the same area. This is due to the fact that when litter is already present, it can give the impression that the area is suitable for discarding items.

2. Construction sites

A certain amount of litter is also generated during construction projects. Workers’ lunches and the uncontrolled production of building debris are the main contributors to the build-up of litter. Wood, metal, plastic, concrete, cardboard and paper are among the most common waste materials.

3. Laziness and Carelessness

Most of the time, people are just too lazy and don’t know how to properly dispose of trash. It’s not uncommon to see people throwing garbage out of the window of their kitchen or balcony, most likely because they’re too lazy to clean up after themselves. Littering has also been born out of carelessness, where people throw garbage anywhere without thinking about it.

4. The Belief That There is no Consequence for Littering

The prevalence of the "I don't care attitude" has been attributed to the fact that individuals do not consider their actions to be of any consequence when discarding items regardless of their location. This attitude can be seen in how pedestrians casually drop chewing gum wrappers on roads and sidewalks, and how motorists thoughtlessly toss garbage from their vehicles.

5. Lack of Trash Receptacles

Many passengers, pedestrians, and people living in urban areas have blamed rampant littering on the lack of public trash cans. Some places have them, but they are not enough, while some of the existing ones are sometimes poorly managed, which leads to overloading of the containers. Besides, animal scavengers and blowing wind can dislodge the items and scatter them around.

6. Improper Environmental Education

Passengers, walkers, and people who live in cities have accused the city of having a problem with littering because there aren't enough public trash bins. While there are existing support systems, they may not always be sufficient and can sometimes lack effective management, resulting in overwhelming situations. Plus, animals and wind can move the trash around.

7. Low or No Fines

Because people don't anticipate being fined for littering, they continue to engage in the behavior without consequence. For instance, people throw cigarette butts and don't care about getting fined because they never get fined.

Effect of Littering

The consequences of littering are serious and have a significant impact on the environment and the overall well-being of our planet and its inhabitants. The effects of littering are highlighted in the following text.

They include:

1. Can Cause Physical Harm or Injury to People

Litter can also pose risks of injury, as it may contain needles, blades, or broken glass. Improperly disposing of cigarette butts in wooded areas can also lead to fires, causing damage to nearby property and homes and potentially harming individuals caught in the midst of these incidents.

2. It Can Facilitate the Spread of Disease

Littering can promote the spread of harmful organisms and diseases. Improper disposal of trash can create a breeding ground for diseases and can also lead to the transmission of these diseases to animals that consume the trash. When trash accumulates water, it provides an ideal breeding environment for mosquitoes. This can be particularly concerning in tropical regions where these insects are known carriers of malaria.

3. Pollutes the Environment

Toxic materials or chemicals present in litter can be dispersed or washed away into rivers, forests, lakes, or creeks, where they can pollute water bodies, land, forests, soils, or aquatic organisms. Litter not only creates an unsightly environment, but it also has adverse effects on air quality. The presence of litter contributes to unpleasant odors and releases toxic or chemical vapors into the atmosphere.

4. High Cleanup Costs

Every year, billions of Naira are spent by municipalities on anti-litter clean-up. This makes the problem of littering even more serious, as the money that would have been used for progressive development is partly spent on waste management programs. Litter can also block storm water drainage systems, resulting in urban flooding that requires intervention and restoration efforts.

5. It Affects and Can Kill Wildlife

Plastic litter is often mistaken for food by a wide range of land and sea animals, including herbivores, marine birds, turtles, and fish. When these animals consume litter, it reduces their stomach capacity because it cannot be digested. Over time­, plastic consumption alters their eating patte­rns and ultimately leads to their de­mise. Tragic instances have shown marine­ creatures like birds, whale­s, dolphins, and turtles being discovere­d lifeless with plastic and cigarette­ remnants in their stomachs. Moreove­r, certain materials may contain toxins or sharp fragments that can inflict damage­ on the animal's organs or cause physical harm.