Sources of Litter
Litter is a multifaceted issue. Identifying sources is essential for developing effective strategies to combat litter. There are several main sources of litter:
- Directly generated by citizens: This includes litter dropped on streets, discarded from vehicle windows, or left behind after picnics in parks, rather than being properly deposited into waste or litter containers.
- Issues with residential and commercial waste collections: Problems such as waste being dropped while emptying containers into dumpster trucks, overfilled containers, and containers that allow easy access to animals all contribute to the litter problem.
- Issues with litter containers and bins in public places: Overfilled containers, inefficient collection schedules, broken bins, and poorly designed bins that enable birds and animals to access them are also significant contributors to litter.
The Limitations of Conventional Litter Audits
Conventional litter audits typically involve measuring litter at a selected number of sites throughout a city. However, this approach (for example, described in "City of Vaughan 2023 Litter Audit") has several limitations:
- Overly broad sampling: Using city population size as the sole determinant for sizing sample site selection can lead to inaccurate representations of litter issues.
- Inadequate methodology: Applying statistical formulas and probability theories without considering the unique characteristics of each litter source and properties of particular sites can result in misleading conclusions.
- Failure to account for different sources of litter: Treating various sources of litter (e.g., direct citizen-generated litter, residential waste collection issues, public bin problems) as a single, averaged contributor neglects the distinct statistical and probability descriptors of each.
The Misuse of Statistical Tools
The use of sampling size calculators, such as Raosoft, blindly, without understanding of statistical hypothesis to be tested, can be even more problematic when applied to litter audits.
In contrast, litter audits involve complex, multifaceted issues that cannot be reduced to simple statistical models or once-per-year quantification of litter on predetermined sites.
The Consequences of Conventional Methodologies in Litter Audits
The consequences of relying on conventional litter audit methodologies are far-reaching:
- Inaccurate year-after-year comparisons: Changes in litter reduction practices can not be accurately reflected in collected data due to the inherent flaws in the methodology.
- Misallocation of resources: Treating different sources of litter as averaged contributors can lead to misguided resource allocation, neglecting the most significant contributors to litter issues.
- Misleading data interpretation. We discussed some of the nonsenses of litter branding audits in previous blog posts.
A New Approach: Targeted and Data-Driven Litter Audits
To effectively address litter issues, municipalities must adopt another approach:
- Separate audits for specific locations: Conducting targeted audits over an extended period can provide a clearer understanding of litter issues in predefined areas.
- Clear objectives and data reliability: Cities must define what they want to achieve with the collected data and ensure that the methodology of the litter audit is suitable for the intended purpose.
- Brainstorm first, audit next: Municipalities should not rely on litter audits as a tool to provide any meaningful and practical insight unless they have a clear understanding of the intended areas for improvement. Usually, such areas can be easily identified using a cheap and powerful tools, such as brainstorming between stakeholders.
Conclusion
Conventional litter audit approaches are often ineffective, leading to misguided strategies and wasted resources.
To create meaningful change, municipalities must seek the expertise of professional data scientists and adopt targeted, data-driven methodologies. By doing so, they can develop effective waste management strategies that address the unique needs of their communities.
Contact us to share your ideas and to learn more about how we can help your municipality implement effective waste management strategies.
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