The Impact of Littering
Littering is a small act with big, harmful consequences for our environment and community. When people throw trash like plastic bottles, food wrappers, and cigarette butts on the ground, it makes our streets, parks, and rivers look dirty and unappealing. Litter also harms wildlife—animals can get stuck in plastic bags or eat plastic that makes them sick. Plastic litter takes hundreds of years to decompose, polluting the soil and water for generations. Littering also costs taxpayers money, as cities have to spend millions of dollars every year to clean up trash. The good news is that we can easily stop littering by using trash cans, recycling whenever possible, and picking up litter we see on the ground. By keeping our community clean, we are protecting the environment, helping wildlife, and creating a better place to live for everyone.