In most states, fighting litter involves cleaning it up regularly. A handful of states go beyond the clean-up concept by employing a prevention concept through education, public relations and an ongoing effort to eliminate the conditions that foster litter. The following summaries describe what is happening in the states with comprehensive litter control and prevention programs.

Alabama
AUNTIE LITTER

Pat Mitchell of Birmingham, Alabama created Auntie Litter in 1990. A former elementary school teacher and mother of three, Ms. Mitchell also founded US inc., a national nonprofit organization that provides environmental education to the general public, especially children. The Auntie Litter program has won many awards including Take Pride in America Award from former President George Bush as well as former President Bill Clinton's Point of Light award.

Ms. Mitchell, through Auntie Litter has captured the imagination of thousands of children. Each year, Auntie Litter and the Pollution Patrol, a children's chorus, lead thousands of enthusiastic children in Auntie Litter's Earth Day Parade in downtown Birmingham, the nation's largest Earth Day celebration for children. Firmly convinced that education is the key to cleaning up America, Ms. Mitchell utilizes the children's chorus, printed material, TV, casettes, t-shirts, coloring books and posters to convey Auntie Litter's message. For more information contact Auntie Litter at POB 660128, Birmingham, AL 35266

Auntie Litter is Anti-Litter: this site highlights the nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting a healthy and clean environment. Young people, their families, and educators learn how to conserve natural resources, eliminate litter in their communities, and practice the environmental 3R's - reuse, reduce, recycle http://www.AuntieLitter.org

Florida

Keep Florida Beautiful is a state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful (KAB) and serves as an umbrella orgnization and catalyst to bring together many diverse groups to help Florida communities fight litter, reduce waste and promote beautification. Grassroots program are implemented statewide by a network of local Keep America1Affiliates and a rapidly growing network of 75,000 volunteers who are working to clean up and fix up their communities. A volunteer Board of Directors representing government, business and industry environmental organizations, and civic and professional associations governs the organization.

Keep Florida Beautiful utilizes Iron Eyes Cody, the crying native American first introduced by KAB in 1977 a nd reintroduced in 1998 to call attention to the litter problem. Another character utilized by Keep Florida Beautiful in its education program is Sticky Man ™, a grime-fighting super hero who used to be a litterbug and then his trash started sticking to him. One day a garbage truck mistook him for a "curb-side pickup" and he was morphed into Sticky Man.™. Now Sticky Man doesn't litter any more and he has super powers. In March of 2000 he walked off the screen and on to the roads and communities across Florida and began the "Great American Clean-up" which he repeated in March and April of 2001. Portrayed by professional actors, Sticky Man visits schools, shopping mall, major sporting event and the media delivering presentations designed to both entertain and educate. He is always looking for volunteers to help him in the fight against litter. He actively promotes sponsors, partners and volunteers for the program.

The Florida Program is in the proces of developing an "Adopt-a-shore" program to reduce litter on its beaches and an awards program, which will recognize those individuals, groups, and businesses that make a significant contribution to fighting litter.

http://www.keepflbeautiful.org/

Nebraska

In 1999 the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality's Litter Reduction and Recycling Grant Program completed its nineteenth year. Created in 1979 after the enactment of the Nebraska Litter Reduction and Recycling Act, the program has enjoyed tremendous success. Citizens across the State of Nebraska are very supportive of the many solid waste management projects and programs that have been implemented. These programs incorporate education, clean-ups and recycling. In 1998 $750,000 was award to 52 organizations, business and communities that conducted recycling and litter reduction programs. Whether the program covered buying recycled, clean-up of a local dump site by community organizations, or a puppet show on litter reduction for children, each activity that worked to promote recycling and litter reduction was funded as a important part of effective solid waste management. About 45% of the money went for education, 50% went to promote recycling and 5% was used to fight litter. Periodic surveys show that the amount of litter in the State of Nebraska has continued to decrease annually in all categories by item count, area, weight and volume. The Department of Environmental Quality and the people of Nebraska attribute this reduction to the Litter Reduction and Recycling Grant Program. The program will continue to aim education efforts at adults, expand its program to address the high rate of litter tobacco products and increase litter reduction efforts in Industrial and Business areas.

For more information contact:
Michael J. Linder, Interim Director
Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
Suite 400, The Atrium 1200 "N" St., POB 98922
Lincoln, NE, 68509-8922
Tel.: 402-471-2186

Oklahoma
Keep Our Land Grand

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation and other state agencies and concerned citizens are fighting litter with Oklahoma's "Keep Our Land Grand." This campaign breaks new ground as the first state effort to receive assistance from Federal enhancement funds. "Oklahoma, Keep Our Land Grand" replaces the state's first anti-litter push "Don't Lay That Trash On Oklahoma" which debuted in 1988. The theme line Oklahoma, Keep Our Land Grand, was derived from the lyrics of the famous song OKLAHOMA written by Rodgers and Hammerstein and attacks litter at the grass roots level. TV, radio and print ads use key lyrics from the song to show the ugliness of litter and remind Oklahomans of their state pride. Littering hampers both tourism and economic development so it's up to all Oklahomans to "Keep Our Land Grant." Oklahoma has a highway litter HOTLINE, sponsored by ODOT(Oklahoma Department of Transportation). It is active statewide with a toll-free number: 1-888-5-LITTER. Any person who spots someone littering can call and report the incident. Postcards then are mailed to alleged violators describing the time, date and place the person was spotted littering and asking the owner of the vehicle to help Keep Oklahoma clean and attractive.

Oklahoma also has an Adopt-A-Highway Program. More than 100 groups are actively involved in this partnership against litter. Groups adopt a two-mile section of highway for a two-year period and commit to pickup litter at least four times a year at TRASH-OFFs, one of which is a Saturday in April which gets a great deal of government and press support. Recent TRASH-OFF events have included a total of more than 100 cities, counties, state parks and lakes. Other programs include a Roadside Landscaping and Beautification Program, a school poster contest and distribution of anti-litter promotional material.

For more information, contact
Keep Oklahoma Beautiful
Gail Ederer
Business and Project Administration
Edmon, OK
405-844-6543
405-844-6549

DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS

Don't Mess with Texas is the public education arm of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) 's litter prevention programs. Created in 1986, the campaign works to educate the public about the litter problem in Texas. Based on research of litter behavior and attitudes, the program uses radio, TV, billboards and special events like its Trash-Off (statewide trash collection event) to reach the public. Joining the Don't Mess with Texas campaign are an Adopt-a-Highway program and a grassroots partnership with Keep Texas Beautiful. Together these programs form a comprehensive litter prevention strategy. Don't Mess with Texas also has corporate partners who sponsor clean-ups, contribute funds and assist with publicity. The program also provides litterbags and bumper stickers available through online requests, at TxDOT travel information centers, promotional events. The Travel Division also sells large quantities of litterbags and bumper stickers at cost to organizations or businesses wanting a large quantity. Using Federal Highway Administration estimates from 1990 for litter cleanup, TxDOT estimates that in fiscal year 1997 it saved $4.13 million in litter pickup costs as a result of its programs. The program receives one free public service announcement for every one its pays for and estimates that it receives an average of $8.9 million a year in public service airtime.

Website explains programs and partners. FAQs plus videos of popular TV spots. http://www.dontmesswithtexas.org

Contact info:
Linda Levitt
Texas Department of Transportation
P. O. Box 149248
Austin, Texas 78714
512/486-5904 phone
512/486-5909 fax

Virginia

Virginia conducts one of the most experienced comprehensive litter control program in the US. In 1976, the Virginia General Assembly passed the Litter Control Act, creating the Virginia Division of Litter Control and the funding to begin programs to educate society. The Division of Litter Control offices opened in Richmond in late 1977. The Division is funded solely by special taxes levied on business and industries.

The Litter Control Act mandates that a minimum 50% of these monies be channeled as yearly litter control grants to Virginia communities. Every city, county and incorporated town in Virginia is eligible to participate. Participation is close to 100%. In addition to grant funding the Division of Litter control offers "The Virginia Plan: A Model Program to Prevent Littering. This is a step-by-step manual for developing and operating a community litter control program.

The program includes working with Keep America Beautiful's Clean Community System; workshops held by Division staff in the locality implementing the program; training meetings and annual statewide litter control symposia and regional workshop for local program leaders; and by co-sponsoring the Keep Virginia Beautiful annual Governor's Clean Virginia awards. Education for students is another major effort of the division as well as special programs for adults on "Operation Clean Water" and "State Recycling Month."

For more information contact:
Virginia Division of Litter Control
1215 Washington Bldg.
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 786-8679