Museum of Litter

The 22nd Challenge

On Earth Day 2010, I remember someone making a comment about the hype of Earth Day. His point was everyone seemed to feel they were doing so much if they attended a one-day-a-year Earth Day event. He said we should be pitching in on a regular basis (I agree). As Earth Day is always celebrated on the 22nd, he suggested using the 22nd each month to do something special. I LIKE that idea! Also the number 22 has special significance to me -- it's my birthday. So, whoever you are*, thank you for that great idea. I'm running with it. I'm issuing:
 
 The Monthly 22nd Challenge
Using the 22nd as a reminder, what can we each do? Look around as you go through your day. Are there 22 pieces of litter you can pick up? Can you pick up everything in a 22 foot radius? Can you pick up litter for 22 minutes or even 22 seconds?
 
These are the first 22 pieces of litter I saw this morning. It took me a little more than 22 seconds, but not much -- probably 2 or 3 minutes at the most. Some of the pieces are very small pieces of plastic or cigarette butts. They are what I consider the worst... so small that they are easily ingested but not digested by wildlife causing birds, fish and turtles to die. This may not be a lot picked up, but every single piece is important.

Every litter bit hurts. Every little bit helps.
 
I'd love to hear from you. Let's start a conversation about litter to make those who are unaware more conscious. Please share your ideas and experience. *LIKE* us on Facebook.  If you take photos I invite you to post them on Facebook's Museum of Litter page.

If you're on Twitter, follow @MuseumofLitter. Together we can #twitterlittteraway.
 
* I wish I'd remember who's idea using the 22nd was so I could give credit. If it was you or you know who it was, please let me know so I can give credit where credit is due. Thanks!
 
 

Sanibel Island, FL: The water's fine. Come on down.

Happy to report hardly any litter and no oil as of July 26. Sanibel Island beaches are pristine.

Didn't do much litter picking on Sanibel ...not much there. Mostly, played tourist and rode bikes in preserve and bike paths. I LOVE Sanibel. They've done a fabulous at preserving the natural environment of Old Florida. Last morning there I intended to pick up enough cigarette butts from the beach to make an angel. It takes about 12 butts to make a cigarette butt angel and I couldn't find enough. A good sign!

Who's responsible for litter? YOU!

Who, me? Yes! YOU ....... and me.

Years after the Litter Bug and Crying Indian campaigns of the 70's, we still have litter.  I find this unbelievable, and think WE are the problem.

Litter picked up in about 45 minutes on a relatively clean beach, in LBTS, FL 33308

People litter because we allow them to. As long as we don't expect it to be different or speak up in some way to say litter is unacceptable, nothing will change. There are many problems in the world complicated to solve, but litter isn't one of them

Littering laws that are rarely enforced, despite the fact litter cleanup costs our nation about $11.5 billion per year. This is a huge waste of money that could be much better spent.

Until people learn to toss their trash where it belongs, we need to continue picking up after them. However, at the same time we need to educate about the problems of litter. Lots of people don't even think cigarette butts are litter. They have no idea where all this litter goes or how it affects local communities and the planet as a whole. They have no idea their litter ends up in the Pacific Garbage Patch or the newly discovered Atlantic Garbage Patch.

If people want to litter: FINE! Announce we will begin to enforce the litter laws and issue citations that could fund litter-prevention education. Just like there are traffic schools for drivers, there can be litter schools with Trash Talk Classes for litterers where they could learn the importance of pitching in to keep the community clean.

Any bad habit takes a while to break. To encourage good will and get people used to the idea of using the garbage can we could have Green Ambassadors. They could kindly remind people there are fines, and give them a friendly warning, with a bag to use to tote their trash, possibly printed with litter facts. I think people would care if they knew the danger it poses to people, pets and wildlife. A man in my town had to have his toe amputated after stepping on broken glass on the beach. I'm sure if the person who left their bottle behind had any idea of the consequences of their action they would have made a difference choice.

I think mostly this is a very unconscious act. Most people don't think it's a big deal and are offended and defensive if you say something. Years ago, I used to say something directly to the litterer. But, these days, confrontation is dangerous and does NOT work. Then, I tried handing them their trash and saying, "You must have dropped this."  This approach doesn't work either because they know what you're really saying.

Here's my NEW approach. If I see someone litter I walk over, pick up the object and nicely ask their permission to take it.  Of course they say they don't mind and back off like I'm crazy. I take the object -- maybe take a picture of it first -- smile and sincerely say  "Thank you" and hand them this card:

Then I walk away. If you can't see the back clearly in this post it gives info about how long it takes things to decompose. I am hoping that with no pressure on them of confrontation or being blamed and made 'wrong' they'll read it and think about the facts.  Education is the key. And we have to reach litterers in a way they will be open to receive the information.

We need to keep finding ways to bring this conversation into the open. I invite your comments.  If you're on twitter and share about litter, use please use hashtags so we can find and support each other without wading through all the kitty litter & birth litter tweets. Use #litter, or #littering, or a new fav of mind #TwitterLitterAway. I do believe we CAN #TwitterLitterAway.

Sharon

PS. FREE Thank You Cards are available on Museum of Litter homepage.

Desiree talks about picking up her pet peeve: Cigarette butts

From Storm Drain to Shining Sea

Here's a picture of a little litter in a storm drain in Fort Lauderdale, FL. 

Here's a cute video reminder of where the cigarette butts and other litter go from here. Out of the mouth of babes:

Cigarette Butt Makeover ;)

BEFORE: Cigarette Butts collected in 1/2 hour (March 6th) at our Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL monthly beach cleanup:

AFTER:

Angel of Green #13, Medium: Cigarette Butts and Bottle Cap (upcycled), Acrylic, Recycled Mat, Frame & Museum Glass

and

AFTER:

Starfish #1; Medium: Cigarette Butts (Filter Paper), Recycled Mat, Frame & Museum Glass

Museum of Litter in the News

There was a great article about us today by Don Crinklaw in the Fort Lauderdale SunSentinel -- in the East Side Forum (pg 11) and the Eastsider (pg 6). Here's a link to a readable copy of the article:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fort-lauderdale/fl-esb-litter-0128-20100128,0,7058162.story

Museum of Kitty Litter? I don't think so!

 

Was at the AAA Office in Bradenton, FL. After getting a few maps, I mentioned to the woman at the counter something I had seen in the parking lot. I handed her my card telling her I was from the Museum of Litter and had seen one of those plastic outdoor Cigarette Butt receptacles laying on its side in the landscaping. A sign at the entrance to AAA states there is no smoking inside. "What chance is there a smoker will dispose of their butt properly if there is no ashtray in site near the door?" I asked, and wanted her to know where the receptacle had ended up.  As I was speaking, she got a quizzical look, burst out laughing hysterically, and admitted, "Oh! I thought you were talking about a Museum of Kitty Litter."

 

Sometimes when I mention Museum of Litter I get a blank look. Do you think they also think kitty litter? I just thought that maybe litter wasn't a pet peeve of theirs and they didn't relate. Guess I will have to be more specific.

A LITTER CHRISTMAS TREE reminds us we share One World - Elaine Devine

This may not be the most unique or unusual Christmas tree, but it's got to be one of the greenest. All decorations are 100% local litter temporarily up-cycled into ornaments.

Thanks to all the adventurous spirits who attended our Litter Tree-trimming party -- it was the most fun I've ever had trimming a tree -- litterally!

There was lots of joy and laughter as we marveled at the nonsensical things that end up littering the beach as well as conversations about whether these items were left behind, lost by boaters or dumped by cruise ships.

The creativity shown was amazing; from using a child's sun-hat as a tree topper to the intriguing vignettes made from various litter combinations.

Thanks for letting us share our Litter tree with you. We hope it brought some whimsy into your day. Please share with family & friends to spread the word about a litter-free environment.

 

  

BIG BUTT Problem in Britain

Of course, we all know the big butt problem is worldwide.

Many thanks to Keep Britain Tidy for giving us permission to share this creative video with you.