Roadside litter has been a persistent issue in Delaware. In addition to
all the efforts from volunteer programs, the Delaware Department of Transportation
(DelDOT) spends nearly $2 million annually for removing and disposing of
roadside litter and illegal dumping. The increase in the number of people,
vehicles, and products has led to an increase in certain types of litter on the
roads. Additionally, the emergence of the global pandemic due to COVID-19 has
drastically aggravated the problem, particularly, due to the enormous increase
in the demand and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and plastic
products used for packaging and take-out foods. The existing publications that
address the issue of roadside litter in Delaware are few in number and
scattered. The
goal of this study is to present concise yet comprehensive information about
the extent of these issues and the current litter abatement efforts in Delaware
and to introduce suggestions for mitigating this problem. For this purpose, a collection of relevant documents, including academic
and non-academic literature, have been reviewed and summarized. The issue of
roadside litter is a complex problem with numerous environmental, social, and
economic impacts. Further, litter and other types of debris on the roads can
pose serious safety hazards for road users. Although multiple positive steps
have been taken recently to tackle this issue in Delaware, more comprehensive
and effective strategies need to be established for boosting the current
measures. Some major areas for improvement include, but are not limited to,
enhancing education and public awareness programs, encouraging volunteer campaigns,
establishing more effective law enforcement methods, and improving the disposal
facilities.
References
[1]
Ballot Bin (2021, January 10). Keep Streets Butt-Free with the Ballot Bin. https://ballotbin.co.uk/
[2]
Beck, R. W. (2007). A Review of Litter Studies, Attitude Surveys and Other Litter-Related Literature. Keep America Beautiful.
[3]
Burns & McDonnell (2020, January). Pennsylvania Litter Research Study. Keep America Beautiful, Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company, Inc. https://files.dep.state.pa.us/waste/Bureau%20of%20Waste%20Management/WasteMgtPortalFiles/Littering/Pennsylvania%20Litter%20Research%20Study%20Final%20Report%201.30.2020.pdf
[4]
Cherry, A. (2020, January 23). ‘Take Responsibility’: Delaware Launches ‘Keep DE Litter Free’ Campaign. https://www.wdel.com/news/take-responsibility-delaware-launches-keep-de-litter-free-campaign/article_f44b4d76-6c31-11e9-a208-53c252a3cb77.html
[5]
de Kort, Y. A. W., McCalley, L. T., & Midden, C. J. H. (2008). Persuasive Trash Cans. Environment and Behavior, 40, 870-891. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916507311035
[6]
Delaware Laws (2021, January 10). Title 16—Chapter 16. Litter Control Law. https://delcode.delaware.gov/title16/c016/index.shtml
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions (2015). Marine Park Protectors. https://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/management/marine/marine-parks-wa/398-marine-park-protectors?showall=1
[9]
DSM Environmental & MSW Consultants (2018). State of Delaware Baseline Statewide Visual Litter Study. Keep Delaware Beautiful.
Forbes, G. J. (2004, June). The Safety Impact of Vehicle-Related Road Debris. AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
[12]
Forbes, G. J. (2009). Reducing Litter on Roadsides (NCHRP Synthesis: Vol. 394). Transportation Research Board. http://nap.edu/14250
[13]
GAO (U.S. Government Accountability Office) (2012, November). Highway Safety: Federal and State Efforts Related to Accidents That Involve Non-Commercial Vehicles Carrying Unsecured Loads: Report to Congressional Committees. https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-13-24
[14]
Gregory, M. R. (2009). Environmental Implications of Plastic Debris in Marine Settings—Entanglement, Ingestion, Smothering, Hangers-on, Hitch-Hiking and Alien Invasions. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Series B: Biological Sciences, 364, 2013-2025.
[15]
IntuVision (2021, May 3). Intuitive Video Analytics. https://www.intuvisiontech.com
[16]
Nelson, D. C. (2001). Roadside Litter Control: A Survey of Programs and Practice. Maryland State Highway Administration. http://www.roads.maryland.gov/opr_research/md-01-sp707b4i-roadside-litter-control_a-survey-of-programs-and-practice-report.pdf
[17]
Parra, E. (2017, June 1). Frustrated by What He Saw, Police Officer Cleaning up Wilmington. The News Journal. https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2017/06/01/wilmington-delaware-police-officer-cleaning-up-city/340822001/
[18]
Patrício Silva, A. L., Prata, J. C., Walker, T. R., Duarte, A. C., Ouyang, W., Barcelò, D., & Rocha-Santos, T. (2021). Increased Plastic Pollution Due to COVID-19 Pandemic: Challenges and Recommendations. Chemical Engineering Journal, 405, Article ID: 126683. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2020.126683
[19]
Prata, J. C., Silva, A. L. P., Walker, T. R., Duarte, A. C., & Rocha-Santos, T. (2020). Covid-19 Pandemic Repercussions on the Use and Management of Plastics. Environmental Science & Technology, 54, 7760-7765. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c02178
[20]
Schultz, W. (2009). Littering Behavior in America Results of a National Study. Keep America Beautiful, Inc. https://kab.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/NewsInfo_Research_LitteringBehaviorinAmerica_2009Report_Final.pdf
[21]
Slaughter, E., Gersberg, R. M., Watanabe, K., Rudolph, J., Stransky, C., & Novotny, T. E. (2011). Toxicity of Cigarette Butts, and Their Chemical Components, to Marine and Freshwater Fish. Tobacco Control, 20, i25-i29. https://doi.org/10.1136/tc.2010.040170
[22]
Smith, J. (2018). Delaware Stepping up Efforts to Prosecute Those Dumping Trash along Roadways. https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2018/04/08/delaware-stepping-up-efforts-prosecute-those-dumping-trash-along-roadways/487583002/
[23]
State of Delaware News (2017, October 2). Imagine a Litter-Free Delaware Clean up Scheduled. State of Delaware News. https://news.delaware.gov/2017/10/02/imagine-a-litter-free-delaware-scheduled/
[24]
State of Delaware News (2019, July 18). Governor Carney Announces Expansion of DelDOT’s Work-a-Day Earn-a-Pay Program. State of Delaware News. https://news.delaware.gov/2019/07/18/governor-carney-announces-expansion-of-deldots-work-a-day-earn-a-pay-program/
[25]
Stein, S. R. (2009, September). 2008 National Visible Litter Survey and Litter Cost Research Study (No. 20878). Keep America Beautiful.
[26]
The Daily Times (2019, May 1). Delaware, Stop Dumping: Gov. John Carney Launches Statewide Anti-Littering Campaign. The Daily Times. https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/2019/05/01/delaware-stop-dumping-governor-launches-anti-littering-campaign/3631217002/
[27]
The News Journal (2016). DelDOT: Road Litter Still a Problem.
[28]
Thiele, C. J., Hudson, M. D., Russell, A. E., Saluveer, M., & Sidaoui-Haddad, G. (2021). Microplastics in Fish and Fishmeal: An Emerging Environmental Challenge? Scientific Reports, 11, Article No. 2045. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-81499-8
[29]
Torgler, B., García-Valiñas, M. A., & Macintyre, A. (2008). Justifiability of Littering: An Empirical Investigation (Working Paper No. 59). Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1165203 http://hdl.handle.net/10419/53274
[30]
WITN Channel 22 News (2019, July 30). Governor Carney Signs Legislation to Ban Plastic Bags, Reduce Litter in Delaware. WITN Channel 22 News. https://www.witn22.org/2019/07/30/governor-carney-signs-legislation-to-ban-plastic-bags-reduce-litter-in-delaware/
