Is it me or is there so much more litter, trash and garbage on the streets in the U.S.?

Question

In general, the U.S. just looks so much more dismal and not maintained, but I'm in the Northeast. Maybe other parts of the country look better maintained.

Answer 1

I took a walk yesterday and have noticed this as well. I have always noticed, but when actually taking a walk and not driving by it it looks much worse. The city used to maintain and upkeep everything such as trimming shrubs on side of roads, keeping grass green and well kept, no trash, and just overall a clean place. Now it is just all trashy and horrible, sad, I hate seeing it like that. I am northeast as well and have noticed this. Guess it is better to spend money on destroying roads and rebuilding them along with other uselessness than to hire city workers or community service people to clean up the place some.

Answer 2

I think it depends on where you are. I've travelled a fair amount in the US, and I can tell you some places are filthy and others are litter-free. Even within the some county, the amount of garbage on the roads varies.

Take into account that this isn't an especially pretty time of year for most of the US. The snow is gone, but trees are still bare. I think you are more likely to see the trash under this set of circumstances.

Answer 3

Recycling programs seem to have the unwanted effect of increased litter. People set out containers of recyclable materials for collection, then garbage-collecters come by and dump them out looking for aluminum or other metals before the recycle trucks come. I see it in my city all the time.

Also, the larger city recycling cans are often full of loose papers and objects that are not bagged the way most other garbage is. Consequently, when the recycle trucks come by to lift-and-empty them, various debris inevitably blows out into the street.

Answer 4

I'm with you, both in the NE, and in what you're saying.
Here's the thing.
Quaint, small-town villages keep neater.
There's less people, and there's more of a likleihood that any one person will be spotted by someone they know being a bad little litterbug.
This even happens in marketing- te $ spot at the Target where I used to work was always trashed-
a woman who was once in marketing came up and told me that in smaller aisles, that's what going to happen. In open areas, where it's easy to spot a slob,
You guessed it- people keep neater.

Answer 5

We drove through some parts of NY and it was so dirty. Some places are very clean other not so. Just matters where you go I guess?
Portland Oregon is our nearest city and it seams real clean.

Answer 6

dude, come to the UK and then say that - seriously, the USA is soooooooo much nicer than here.