BATON ROUGE, La. – Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) and Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser ask people in all 64 parishes of Louisiana to stop littering in 2024 and adopt one or all 10 of KLB’s proposed New Year’s resolutions to help clean up the state’s Sportsman’s Paradise.
“Litter hurts our economy, our environment, and our quality of life,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “By adopting one or all of these resolutions, you are doing your part to prevent litter and helping to let Louisiana shine.”
“Keep Louisiana Beautiful’s 2023 litter study revealed Louisiana is spending an estimated $91.4 million each year on litter abatement,” said KLB Executive Director Susan Russell. “We also found that 92% of Louisiana citizens believe that litter is a problem. It’s time to work together to address our state’s litter problem.”
Some 2024 resolutions can include:
1. Bag trash, tie the bag tight, and put a lid on my outdoor trash can.
These simple actions prevent loose trash from becoming litter.
2. Keep a garbage bag in one’s vehicle and dispose of my trash properly when at home. This action helps prevent roadside litter.
According to Keep Louisiana Beautiful’s 2023 roadside litter study, there are approximately 143.8 million pieces of litter on Louisiana roadways.
3. Check the bed of one’s truck to ensure its free of trash and debris that could fly out and become litter.
This action helps prevent roadside litter. 53.2% of roadway litter is due to motorists.
4. Secure loads with tarps, nets, and tie-downs when transporting large items in trucks or trailers.
This helps prevent accidents caused by fallen equipment, furniture, etc. 17% of roadway litter is due to unsecured loads.
5. Get a travel ashtray.
Tossed cigarette butts are a fire hazard and can end up in our waterways and harm fish and wildlife. 24.5% of micro litter (less than 4 inches) on Louisiana roadways are tobacco products.
6. Keep one’s business parking lot free of litter and install trash receptacles when possible.
A clean place of business is a business that cares about Louisiana. Check out the Clean Biz Partnership!
7. Talk about the importance of not littering with friends and family.
Education and awareness are the key to litter prevention!
8. Use fewer single-use plastics, like plastic water bottles and plastic bags.
Lightweight plastics can become litter, as they are easily carried by the wind and water. Reusable bottles and bags are affordable investments. Plastic water bottles were found at 80% of KLB’s surveyed sites and were the most frequently found visible litter type overall.
9. Sign up to clean up during Love the Boot Week, seven days of cleanup and beautification events happening April 20-28, 2024.
Registration opens at LoveTheBoot.org on January 15, 2024.
10. Pick up litter when one sees it.
Check out clean up supplies at local libraries through the Get Down and Clean Up program.
Litter can include paper, fast food wrappers, beverage cans, Styrofoam, cardboard, plastic bottles, cigarette butts, tire parts, plastic bags, clothing, and even biodegradable items. When not disposed of properly, trash adds to Louisiana’s litter problem.
KLB encourages the people of Louisiana to visit LetLouisianaShine.org for litter facts and prevention tips.
