New research reveals that items in litter typically originate less than two miles from where they’re found — and unless humans remove them, most of these items will never leave the environment.
New research reveals that items in litter typically originate less than two miles from where they’re found — and unless humans remove them, most of these items will never leave the environment.
For the study, researchers from the University of California, Riverside spent a month collecting trash from seven sites across the Inland Empire. They examined its composition, discerned the manufacturers of many items, and thanks to receipts, were also able to determine where the items were purchased.
Most trash items end up on streets only a short distance from where someone bought them. In other words, the majority of litter comes from local sources. This finding could help cities prevent plastic litter that will eventually taint water and air.
“A lot of people say, ‘it’s not my trash,’” said Win Cowger, a UCR environmental scientist and first author on the study. “I want to dispel that notion with the evidence we have, at least here in the Inland Empire.”
Read more at University of California - Riverside
Photo Credit: Filmbetrachter via Pixabay
