Our Sportsman’s Paradise is covered in cigarette butts, cans, bottles and plastic bags. The good news? We’re here to help, but we can’t do it alone. Litter doesn’t just make our neighborhoods look bad, it’s destroying our wildlife and environment. So we need everyone’s help if we want to preserve Louisiana’s natural beauty.
Litter can be many things; from cigarette butts, bottles, bags and cans to gum, banana peels and apple cores. These are all considered litter if disposed of improperly. Even biodegradable items can still be harmful to the environment.
Our wildlife is in danger and habitats are being destroyed. Birds and marine life often become entangled in fishing line or consume cigarette butts.
In Louisiana, an estimated $40 million in taxpayer dollars are spent each year on litter removal, abatement, education and enforcement. It costs $11.5 billion every year to clean up litter in the U.S.
The penalties for littering in Louisiana range from $150 to $10,000 and include the possibility of community service, a one-year driver’s license suspension and even 30 days of jail time.
81% of litter is intentional. Motorists and pedestrians generate 70% of all roadside litter, and 16% comes from trucks with improperly covered loads. The overwhelming majority of litter in parks and playgrounds —98.5%—is attributable to pedestrians.
