Why do people litter?

United States
February 11, 2009 9:20am CST
I am so tired of seeing garbage all over the place. Why do people litter? Why cant they just hold on to the garbage until they find a garbage can? I always will carry my litter until I find a place to properly dispose of it. Don'T people realize they are harming the environment? Let alone the experience of the environment. Do you litter? Our do you throw your garbage away?
6 people like this
19 responses
• United States
12 Feb 09
I personally throw my stuff away and make sure it is put up good. I just think some people litter because they are lazy!!
2 people like this
@vishwaskg (514)
• India
11 Feb 09
HI ,,, I too carry my garbage untill i get a place to dispose it properly...... i feel you should post this discussion in "life",, there you will get a lot people who will get your right message.. because in this INterest..only people who are environmental friendly come up..so i feel all will answer the same as i did... Cheers
2 people like this
• United States
11 Feb 09
This is true. I didn't think of that. Maybe I will post a similar discussion there.
1 person likes this
@teka44 (3420)
• Brazil
11 Feb 09
Hi moneymommy. I share your opinion about this. I never litter since the time that environment wasn't a mode. I have seen many people that talk about environment and still litter. For me it is a question of education and manners. Do they litter in their home? so why they think that they can litter in a public place that belongs to everyone? I teach my daughter to carry her litter untill find a place to properly dispose it. Our streets have many garbage cans so why don't put the garbage in the right place? I see people that are about two or three steps from the garbage can but leave the garbage in the street. Nasty thing. Cheers and have a nice day.
2 people like this
@zenki08 (700)
• Philippines
11 Feb 09
I too share your sentiments. I also hate trash and I hate people who just throw their garbage anywhere even more. It is like a mystery that cannot be solved.
2 people like this
• United States
11 Feb 09
Litter - Here is some litter I spotted walking down the street.
I hate to see it. People distroying the beauty of the earth. But what can you really do about it. I just make sure I throw my stuff out.
1 person likes this
@eichs1 (1934)
• Philippines
11 Feb 09
Many people are still unaware of environmental issues. It's funny because nowadays, people are already talking about global warming and yet many are forgetting that improper garbage disposal is another environmental concern we have to deal with. The effects of garbage can even be felt immediately in the community - gross looking roads, foul odors, proliferation of flies and other disease-causing insects and clogged waterways. And yet, many of us just ignore where we throw away our trashes. Since we need to be reminded every now and then, I think another information and education campaign about proper garbage disposal is a must to help solve the problem. Creation of stricter regulations and continuous implementation of laws will also prevent littering and help keep our communities healthier.
2 people like this
@katsalot1 (1618)
11 Feb 09
I think people litter either because they've never been taught it's wrong or because they just don't care. I really hate it when you see stuff being thrown out of car windows, but I must admit I haven't seen it happen so much in the last couple of years, so maybe people are getting the message. I either use a bin or take it home with me.
@xtinelee (3371)
• Singapore
12 Feb 09
Well, because even though people have been educated not to do it, they still do it, because they are too lazy to look for anything! They are even lazy to walk to the rubbish bin... Everyone knows that the earth is dying, but till today, no one has done anything to help it either.
1 person likes this
@gbolly54 (661)
• Nigeria
12 Feb 09
It is very nauseating seeing garbage thrown and dumped carelessly. It's a bad habit littering the environment. I hate littering, so I employ the services of a refuse collector that comes regularly to empty my refuse drums at home and in the office. While I try as much as possible not to litter at home and in the office, I also try not to litter while outside in my car or while walking along the roads in the cities. However, I could be careless occasionally when driving or walking outside the towns and cities. I have thrown one item of litter or the other out of my car window into the bush at one time or the other while travelling. Most of the time when this happened, it was done either unconsciously or deliberately.
1 person likes this
@KUSHANK55 (2437)
• India
12 Feb 09
absolutely on the tock! i appreciate your concern for this dear friend!! i would call upon all like minded people to join hands and teach others a lesson or two in better litter management and cleanliness!! happy mylotting!
@dropofrain (1167)
• India
12 Feb 09
I think holding on the litter for long is not possible. THat is the reason why people litter. With the people being more and more educated, it is easier to avoid littering with the presence of more and more bins to avoid littering.
@TnWoman (1895)
• United States
11 Feb 09
hello moneymommy i hear ya about seeing garbage out along the roadsides or laying around out in parking lots and also on the sidewalks and in people's yard's even. i keep a small plastic bag in my vehicle and when i have some trash inside of my car or mini van, i put it in the garbage bag, then when it gets full of plastic cups and other garbage i throw that away and grab me another small garbage bag to put back in my vehicle. my Mom also carries a garbabe bag and always keeps puffs tissue in her vehicles. lol that is a good idea to keep those two items in your vehicles, in case somebody gets sick while traveling like that somewhere. and around here in Tennessee, i forgot how much that the fine is for littering. maybe around fifty dollars or so. or they might have raised that amount over the years. but to answer your question, yes, i throw all of my garbage away and i do not litter. take care and have a beautiful day today!
@becdmd (704)
• Philippines
12 Feb 09
When I was as kid and just don't care about the environment I admit I was littering in every corner of our house and outside as well. But when I was aware of the surroundings especially in our country, I felt guilty as a kid being punished, so I've started not littering up to now...I make sure to keep my litters inside my bag or wait to see a garbage can, I can't stand why most people just seem to be unaware and unaffected, it's as if they had no conscience at all...but I know there's still a few people like us who's a concerned citizen and I hope we could pass it on to the next generation.
1 person likes this
@myfb2009 (8296)
• Malaysia
12 Feb 09
Since l was young, my parents had taught me not to litter. So, l used to it..l will always bring a small unwanted garbage bags or tissue paper box, wherever l go. Whenever l can't find a garbage can, l will put them inside my small unwanted garbage bags or tissue box and wait until l have found one. lt had been a habit to me. So, l hope everyone will start to have this kind of habit. Make it a 'Litter Free' environment!
• United States
12 Feb 09
I think that people litter partially because it is aginst the law and breaking the law excites some people. It used to be a big problem on the road that I live on. It is a kind of rural area where no one would see you if you did something on it. Every day I would see new trash on the road. Things like cups, napkins, paper, and other random things. I even actoully found three one dollar bills. I did not keep them because there must be something wrong with them for someone to throw them away to begin with. The trash kept coming so i called the police. I was told by my only neighbor that they had sent people to pick it all up. Then the garbage stopped for a week or two. Then one day a goat carcas was up away from the road. I'm sure it hadn't escaped from a farm and been hit by a car because it was mutilated. I called the police again and they did nothing. Then the trash started coming again. And now I still have this problem. People can be so discusting.
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
11 Feb 09
they just don't give a hoot. no, i don't litter. it doesn't seem to be that bad around here but the furtherest i ever go from home is about 10 miles. lol
1 person likes this
@camomom (7535)
• United States
21 Feb 09
I will fill my purse, pockets, vehicle, etc before I would litter. Trust me, my van is full of trash to prove it.
@derry123 (610)
12 Mar 09
its the same here in London .. some people just drop there litter and dont give a thought to thier enviroment .. i always take litter home with me and make sure who ever im with does the same ..
• India
12 Mar 09
hello there, even i don't like it....i just hate people throwing unwanted things here and there...but i think we just cant help them....as for me, i look for garbage bins always. have a nice day.
• United States
13 Feb 09
me too! I mean seriously there are trash cans everywhere I while wait till I get to a trash can and throw my trash in one When I see people littering I wonder if they do that at home Do they just throw their trash all over the floor at home? Why do they do it outside their home?
• United States
13 Feb 09
oops line 3 I WILL wait too early LOL