The results to Keep America Beautiful 2026 National Litter Study are out, and the data shows improvements to the littering problem across the county. For the study researches surveyed 700 sites across the US, including the same roadway and waterway locations as they did in 2020.
The results are encouraging. Roadway and waterway litter has decreased by 34%, including reductions in plastics (24%), glass (34%), paper (45%), metal (30%), and cigarette butts (62%). One category that increased was cardboard litter, up 50%.
Despite these gains, an estimated 35 billion pieces of litter still remain nationwide—about 2,200 pieces per mile of roadway and 1,300 pieces per mile of waterway.
Help Prevent Litter BY:
- Delay setting trash and recycling at the curb if high winds are expected.
- Pick up any loose trash or recyclables left behind after collection.
- Keep dumpster lids and doors closed and clean up any spills.
- Cover loads when transporting materials in a truck bed.
- Keep a small trash bag in your vehicle to prevent litter from escaping.
