The Connection Between Roadside Trash and Wildlife Conservation

“Do you ever feel like a plastic bag drifting through the wind…”. While Katy Perry undoubtedly means to inspire with the lyrics of “Firework”, the opening verse reminds you of an unpleasant reality. Human-created trash can be found all around and it impacts the environment in multiple ways. So, how does littering affect nearby animals? The soil? Wildlife conservation? Your mood and mindset? 

Understanding the impact — and how you can make a difference — inspires positive action. Here’s what you should know about the connection between roadside trash and wildlife conservation. 

How Does Littering Affect Wildlife?

Pictures of wildlife trapped in plastic tug your heartstrings. Thirty-three billion tons of plastic waste flow into the world’s oceans each year and it doesn’t all come from cruise ships. 82% of that waste flushes into the sea through rivers — meaning it often begins as roadside trash. 

However, many of the most visible impacts of roadside trash on wildlife occur in the sea, as aquatic creatures become entangled and suffocate on the rubbish. Others ingest it, which leads to a slow and miserable death by starvation as their bellies are too full to process nutritious food. While land-based animals can also suffer ill effects, whales, seabirds and turtles are frequent victims. 

Furthermore, roadside trash impacts wildlife conservation by destroying habitats. For example, discarded cigarette butts and plastic bottles take hundreds of years to break down and release toxins into the soil when they do, which affects plant life land-based critters rely on for nutrition. When these animals’ food sources disappear, so do their populations. 

Why People Litter and the Dangers of Climate “Doomerism”

Why do people choose to litter? Sometimes, it’s a lack of education about the dangers. Other times, there’s no convenient trash can nearby and cultural norms make people mistakenly believe littering is no big deal. In rare cases, the spirit of what Edgar Allan Poe dubbed “the imp of the perverse” takes hold — people know littering is wrong and do so to rebel. 

However, another issue has arisen in today’s era of frightening environmental headlines — climate doomerism. Some folks believe humankind has already harmed the planet to such a degree, taking action now makes little difference. Therefore, they litter.

This attitude is dangerous, as it only adds to the existing mess and makes it harder to clean up. If you fall into this category, tuning into sites focused on positive eco-friendly news can reassure you you are not alone in your desire for a better world. These sites can often keep you informed on ways you can help, too. 

What Are People Doing About Roadside Trash?

The reality is, while roadside trash is a problem, people are taking action. Doing so requires a coordinated effort between governments, businesses, civic organizations and individuals. For example, the Pennsylvania Departments of Environmental Protection and Transportation partnered with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful in 2018-19, conducting a study that led to present-day initiatives such as “Pick Up Pennsylvania”. 

Another example is the Adopt-A-Highway program, which promotes safe and litter-free roadways by building awareness and providing valuable volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups to get involved. It also allows businesses to sponsor cleanups led by professional crews to keep more dangerous thoroughfares clean and clear. 

4 Things You Can Do to Reduce Roadside Trash and Encourage Wildlife Conservation Near You

You can also get involved in the effort to reduce roadside trash and stop the harmful effects of littering on wildlife by doing the following. 

1. Pick Up Litter

You don’t need to belong to an organization to pick up trash you see. However, you can research local Adopt-A-Highway and Keep (your area) Beautiful programs to team up with others, if doing so makes you feel more comfortable. Otherwise, grab a trash bag or two — perhaps one for recyclables and the other for rubbish — and a yellow vest for visibility and go to town. Make it a game and get your kids involved. Who can pick up the most litter? 

2. Reduce Your Plastic Consumption

Single-use plastics are a primary cause of roadside trash. To minimize littering’s effect on wildlife, cut back on those things you use once, then throw away. 

For example, bring cloth bags with you to the grocery store. There would be five million fewer plastic straws littering roadsides, if everyone switched to a reusable version. When selecting items, look for those with the least amount of plastic packaging and buy in bulk using refillable containers whenever possible. 

3. Advocate for Green Spaces

Green spaces provide a place for urban youth and other residents to enjoy the great outdoors. Research shows spending time in nature inspires more eco-friendly attitudes and habits, making people less likely to litter in the first place. 

What’s even better is what’s good for Mother Earth’s health also improves yours. Going outside more often provides a host of benefits, including: 

• Improved immune function
• Natural vitamin D production 
• Sharper vision 
• Greater physical fitness 
• Decreased mental health symptoms 

4. Educate Others

Finally, educate others about how littering affects wildlife and encourage them to adopt more eco-friendly habits. You don’t have to confront strangers — but if you notice a friend dropping a bit of trash without picking it up, ask them why. Teach your kids the importance of not littering and be a model of how to behave by always depositing your trash in the correct receptacles. 

How Littering Affects Wildlife

Understanding how littering affects wildlife inspires you to make positive changes in your habits. While the problem is immense, each person who builds awareness and takes action helps to decrease it. Get involved in conservation efforts and educate others to reduce roadside trash and inspire the conservation of the planet’s amazing variety of flora and fauna.