THE LINK BETWEEN RECYCLING AND LITTER - A FIELD-STUDY

The purpose of our research was to determine whether residential recyc ling programs introduced an additional benefit-reduced litter. We eval uated the proposition that such programs should impart to participants a heightened environmental awareness and understanding that may encou rage them to litter less and/or pick up more accumulated litter. We ex amined accumulated litter by various types - recyclable litter, recycl able accessories, and nonrecyclable litter - in selected neighborhoods before and after the implementation of the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, cu rbside recycling program. We found that recyclable litter decreased si gnificantly after the onset of the program. However, there was no simi lar decline in other types of litter. Although participants were motiv ated to discard fewer recyclables and/or pick up more recyclable titte r after implementation of the program, this behavior did not carry ove r to the proper disposal of nonrecyclable litter.