Hampton's Litter Index Report: 2011
October 5, 2011
The 12th annual Litter Index conducted by the Hampton Clean City Commission on September 21st showed a 4.5 percent decrease in the amount of visible litter since August 2010. The 2011 score of 1.48 indicates a slightly littered city.
As in previous years, the most littered areas were highway interchanges, major roadways, and isolated roads. The volunteers who conducted the index also observed an illegally dumped tire pile.
Hampton residents play a key role in keeping Hampton clean and beautiful. Here are five actions Hamptonians can take to prevent and reduce litter:
- If you see a truck with trash or other debris falling from it, and can safely do so, get identifying information from the truck (the truck number or license plate number) and call the company who owns it. Often the number to call will be on the side of the truck. Report the problem and let the company know that litter hurts our community.
- Make sure you always tie your garbage bags securely so the garbage stays in the bag until it is disposed of properly.
- Always put trash in a trash container – NEVER litter.
- Recycle all the paper, cans, bottles and jugs that you can through the city recycling program (remember only PETE and HDPE plastic bottle and jugs, look on the bottom of the container for recycling triangle with a 1 or 2 inside) or through business recycling companies.
- Residents and businesses, pick up all the litter on your grounds and public areas that lay next to your grounds, including sidewalks and easements. If everyone did that, our neighborhoods and business districts would never have a less-than-perfect litter index score.
Why is it important to have a low Litter Index? According to research conducted on behalf of Keep America Beautiful, Inc. in 2009, litter causes property values to fall between 7 and 9 percent, and 36 percent of business development officials say that litter impacts location decisions for corporations.
Another very good reason to keep litter off our city is that litter contributes to flooding during heavy rains. The litter that lays in your street today will be blocking your storm drain tomorrow. And after that, its next stop is the Chesapeake Bay. All of our storm drains empty into area waterways, either directly into the Bay or into a creek or river that runs into the Bay.
Then there is the matter of community pride and spirit. It is hard to feel good about your home, your neighborhood, or your city if you are surrounded by litter. Maybe you didn't put the litter on the ground, but if you don't pick it up, who will? While you're waiting for someone else to pick it up, it's messing up YOUR community.
The volunteers of the Hampton Clean City Commission urge you to become a litter activist. Speak up about litter, pick up litter and never put litter on the ground!
For more information about litter prevention, contact the Hampton Clean City Commission at 757.727.1130 or hccc@hampton.gov.
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Media Contact:
Debbie Blanton, Hampton Clean City Commission Coordinator