Positive News - Study Shows Littering Declined 34% Across America Since 2020

Added: 2026-05-21

[00:00:00]Litter across America has declined [music] 34% since 2020, according to a new report from the charity Keep America Beautiful. The report shows that every American's share of litter along roadways and waterways has fallen over that time from an estimated 152 pieces to 96. [music] Decades ago, GNN founder Jerry Weiskorbly organized a local spring cleanup along her neighborhood's country roads every year when she was raising kids.

[00:00:25]I can tell looking at the roads now that littering is way down because I live in the same neighborhood and there aren't any organized cleanups anymore.

[00:00:34]The study, which updates the groundbreaking Keep America Beautiful KAB 2020 National Litter Study, is the most extensive research conducted in US history to estimate the scope, scale, causes, and impacts of litter.

[00:00:50]KAB states that it provides both a progress report and a roadmap for where urgent action on litter is still needed as the country approaches its [music] 250th birthday. By the numbers, roadway litter declined 22% from 23.7 [music] billion to 18.4 billion pieces, while waterway litter fell 45% from 25.9 billion to 14.2 billion pieces.

[00:01:15]The declines are being driven by a combination of factors: education that shapes behavior, strong local programs and enforcement, better infrastructure and access to waste systems, and increased public engagement from businesses, organizations, governments, and individuals. [music] This study proves what we've always believed.

[00:01:35]"Litter is solvable when people, systems, and partners work together," said Jennifer Lawson, president and CEO of Keep America Beautiful. "The declines show us what's possible when communities act with urgency and commitment, but our work is far from done. With 35 billion pieces of litter still out there and new types emerging, we must scale what's working, close the remaining gaps in infrastructure and access, and continue building on this momentum. Nearly 90% of Americans feel personal responsibility to reduce litter and 93% agree it's a shared community responsibility among those polled for the study. Overall plastic litter is declining. Litter tells the story of how we live, said David Scott, PhD, SVP of data and research at Keep America Beautiful.

[00:02:18]Right now, it's telling a story of progress, but it's also showing us exactly where we need to focus next. The newest insight from the study is the density of litter along America's coastal areas. Coastal litter, estimated nationally for [music] the first time, is dramatically higher compared to roadway and waterway litter. Coastal zones contain 8 to 13 times more litter per mile than inland environments, highlighting the need for a tailored strategy to address this problem.