Statewide Litter Study
Download the Full Report (pdf, 1.6 MB)
Project Overview and Objectives
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention (DRLP) conducted a statewide litter study during the fall of 2003 and the spring of 2004. The objectives of the field research and sampling study included:
- Producing statistically valid data representing the overall annual amount of litter by weight and volume, distribution, and composition of roadside litter throughout the State of Ohio
- Designing and documenting a sampling methodology to permit replication of the study in the future
- Deriving conclusions about littering behavior to guide litter prevention education and future clean-up efforts
As defined in the Ohio Revised Code § 1502.01, litter throughout the study means "garbage, trash, waste, rubbish, ashes, cans, bottles, wire, paper, cartons, boxes, automobile parts, furniture, glass, or anything else of an unsightly or unsanitary nature thrown, dropped, discarded, placed, or deposited by a person on public property, on private property not owned by the person, or in or on waters of the state…."
This litter study was conducted in both urban and rural areas on three types of roadways and on interchanges. This final report presents the results of the two sampling events-one in the fall of 2003 and one in the spring of 2004.
Summary of Results
Based on this study, the total annual estimated roadside litter in Ohio for all road types and interchanges is 11,772 TONS! A breakdown of these tons reflects 11,380 TONS of litter is deposited annually on Ohio's county, state, interstate, and U.S. routes, and 392 TONS of litter is deposited annually on Ohio's interchanges.
Total Quantity of Litter Generated on Roads in Ohio Annually
| Sample Type |
Miles of Road |
Quantity of Litter / Tons per Year |
| Mean |
Low |
High |
| Interstate and U.S. Routes |
|
4,365 |
3,270 |
5,462 |
| |
Rural |
3,530 |
2,933 |
1,418 |
4,449 |
| Urban |
1,714 |
1,432 |
1,080 |
1,785 |
| State Routes |
|
3,474 |
2,966 |
3,982 |
| |
Rural |
11,744 |
2,406 |
1,718 |
3,095 |
| Urban |
2,312 |
1,068 |
870 |
1,266 |
| County Roads |
|
3,540 |
2,638 |
4,443 |
| |
Rural |
26,811 |
2,684 |
1,416 |
3,951 |
| Urban |
2,324 |
857 |
706 |
1,008 |
| All Roads |
|
11,380 |
10,524 |
12,23 |
|
|