STOP LITTERING
We all want our communities to look attractive and have safe, enjoyable recreational spaces. Littering is a surefire way to make our communities unattractive, degrade water quality, and siphon the fun out of recreational experiences.
Improve your community — STOP LITTERING!
The Impact of Litter on Water
Fast food containers, cigarette butts, candy wrappers and other trash deposited onto streets and parking lots wash into storm sewers and eventually make their way into our rivers and streams. Litter generally takes years to degrade and can even leech toxic chemicals into the water supply.
Here are some things you can do on your own and with your community to help end littering and protect water quality:
STOP LITTERING:
- If you smoke, get your butts in the trash. Cigarette butts are the most littered item on U.S. roadways — accounting for 38% of all roadway litter. Help combat litter by disposing of cigarette butts properly.
- Trash, don’t toss. Don’t toss fast food containers, cups, or candy wrappers out of your car window. Instead, keep a small trash bag handy in your car for garbage.
- Deter the litterbugs. Start beautification programs in your community that include litter brigades. Contact your local public works office for resources to install trash and recycling receptacles in your neighborhood, in recreational spaces, and along trails.
Do your part the protect the environment! Visit the following links to learn more about river and stream cleanup volunteer opportunities.
Stream and River Organizations
- Healthy Rivers Partnership – healthyriverspartnership.com
- Missouri River Relief – www.riverrelief.org
- Missouri Stream Team – mostreamteam.org
- Friends of the Kaw – kansasriver.org
- Kansas City Urban Waters – www.KCWaters.org