For many, litter is simply an unsightly repercussion of urbanisation, however, research tells us that litter has a wide range of negative secondary effects; from increased crime rates to water contamination. Past research on reducing littering behaviours have focused on addressing litter by crafting precise messaging and providing incentives to clean up already littered items. The issue of litter however has steadily increased since the 1960’s and more research is needed to effectively mitigate the many risks it poses to society and the environment. The Geography of Litter seeks to understand litter by focusing on space and time characteristics in order to break the cycle of littering. Due to it’s persistent nature, chewing gum litter is the focus of these studies, where it’s presence is considered an indicator of wider littering habits, often promoting the act by simply being present.
The Geography of Litter will explore the presence and influence of chewing gum on litter through game theory (Ullrika Sahlin, Lund University) and geospatial analysis (Randa Kachef, King’s College London).