Using a Colourful, Specially Designed Waste Receptacle to Reduce Litter in Downtown St. Louis, Missouri

First, a literature review was conducted to uncover possible tools for reducing the amount of litter in a city environment. Then, a specially designed waste receptacle with a prominent anti-litter prompt on its side was used to help control littering. The attractive trash can also displayed corporate advertisements. Each week of the pilot program, two blocks had the specially designed waste receptacles, two blocks had the standard trash cans and two blocks had no waste receptacles. The number of littered items on each block was then counted. As compared to the no trash can condition, there was a 3.15% reduction in litter when standard gallons were on city blocks. Moreover, littering was reduced by 14.7% when the waste receptacle was aesthetically pleasing. First, a literature review was conducted to uncover possible tools for reducing the amount of litter in a city environment. Then, a specially designed waste receptacle with a prominent anti-litter prompt on its side was used to help control littering. The attractive trash can also displayed corporate advertisements. Each week of the pilot program, two blocks had the specially designed waste receptacles, two blocks had the standard trash cans and two blocks had no waste receptacles. The number of littered items on each block was then counted.

As compared to the no trash can condition, there was a 3.15% reduction in litter when standard gallons were on city blocks. Moreover, littering was reduced by 14.7% when the waste receptacle was aesthetically pleasing.