Keep America Beautiful (KAB) has the goal to reduce litter by 35 percent in KAB-affiliate areas throughout the United States. To assess progress in achieving this goal, KAB commissioned a nationwide study to determine quantity, composition, nd sources of litter, as well as to evaluate littering behavior and its associated costs.

Key aspects of the study include:

• Nationwide Litter Field Survey: Measure quantities, composition, and sources of litter through surveys of roadways (freeways & expressways, arterials, collectors, and local roads and urban and rural), non-roadways sites (construction sites, loading docks, recreation areas, storm drains, retail shopping, and transition areas}, and waterways throughout the United States.
• Behavior Observations and Intercept Surveys: Quantify and characterize observed littering behavior at general litter sites (fast food, recreation, gas stations, city centers, and rest stops) and cigarette litter sites (recreation, medical/hospitals, and bars/restaurants).
• Evaluate self-reported littering behavior to gather an understanding of opinions of littering and the effects of litter, prevalence of littering, acceptability of littering, consequences of littering, and litter prevention and abatement.
• Financial Impact of Litter Survey: Conduct a nationwide survey to assess the estimated direct and indirect costs of litter borne by both public and private entities.

This engaging session will include a presentation providing an overview of the 1) study methodology, including the use of a unique electronic field data collection tool, and 2) the results from a nationwide litter survey, behavioral observations, and litter cost analysis. Following the presentation, electronic polling of the audience will be conducted to gather attitudes towards littering and potential program and policy implications. The polling results will then be used engage participants in a facilitated discussion.