Few can say they are not aware of litter, in fact most in the UK admit they do not enjoy being in a littered environment. The presence of litter, as unsightly as it is, has many unseen repercussions on the environment, communities, public funds and social behaviour.
Prior research on littering behaviours and patterns has aimed to test the effectiveness of 1) communication 2) threats and tariffs and 3) campaigns to encourage litter clean up. These studies however have not proven a long term or consistent solution, and litter continues to fail to enter proper waste management systems.
The purpose of this unique study is to correct these shortcomings and to approach litter through spatial analysis. It aims to test a theory that, due to its non-transient and persistent nature, chewing gum litter acts as a permanent invitation to litter, or at least acts as an indicator of wider littering behaviours. To explore this theory, 12 litter counts in high footfall areas were conducted across three UK cities. This data was analysed in GIS to determine correlations between litter and building use type, and Pearson’s r was used to determine correlations between litter types. A fourth study was conducted in London to determine chewing gum deposition rates with and without the prior presence of gum.
Through quantitative methods this study has identified distribution patterns that have informed effective anti-littering campaigns and bin placement in London, Manchester and Birmingham.