Is there a polite way to deal with a litterer?

Question

In my neighborhood people routinely throw their garbage right down on the sidewalk and walk away. Even if there's a trash can within view! It makes me really crazy; I often pick up garbage and litter that isn't mine and throw it away because it bothers me so much. How could you say something to the person from the point of view of trying to kindly educate them as opposed to making them mad? I'm sure not all of them are jerks, but I don't want an ugly confrontation, just a better way to deal with it.

Answer 1

The sad reality is that people will always litter and yes, it drives me nuts as well. I live in an intercity neighborhood with lots of beer drinking college students so you can imagine the litter problem we (used to) have :)

There are two ways of dealing with this politely.
The first is to quickly pick up the trash, and run after the person while calling out "Excuse me! Excuse me!" When they turn around, you hand them their trash and say, "You dropped something!' This usually embarrasses them; after all, everyone knows that littering is against the law and they've just been caught.

The second way, is to change the behaviour of your neighbors. This is done by organizing neighborhood cleanup days. You find neighborhood sponsors that will donate food and tee shirts, and talk to the city public works department to arrange for free dumpsters, recycling bins, and so forth. You can even check with a local high school to see if anyone will tackle it as a service project. In my neighborhood, we even have both a group of football players and a college fraternity helping to keep things clean.

I'm sending you a "How to Organize a Cleanup Day" link to give you some ideas.

Once people have ownership in the neighborhood; once others see that neighbors care about where they live, the littering drops off significantly.

Answer 2

Thats why we moved honey. I know exactly what you are talking about. Ever since they started moving section 8 housing in,and all the garbage that follows, well that's what you get. When they get someting for nothing they treat it like nothing. Welcome to the "Hood". All that street trash has destroyed the inner-city schools and neighborhoods.
They cry of how life and "the man" has been so unfair and they just want a fair and equal chance at life. If only they could get out of the "hood". Well, they get out of the "hood"
and get a chance at moving into a nice home, via section 8, at basically no cost to them and they bring the "hood" right up the street with them, thinking the whole time that life and "the man" is so unfair to them and they wouldnt be where they were at if it wasnt for all the discrimination they have had to face their whole lives.
All the while destroying the school system and property values and neighborhood. Grown men and children with no bed times and no jobs, apparently with nothing to do ALL DAY AND NIGHT LONG creating a new "hood". You cant say anything about it. If you do it's viewed in the light of you being a racist and you are predjudice and discriminating. If that is thought, then you will certaintly be targeted.
All you can do is move if you can. It's not going to get any better for you there honey.

Answer 3

All anyone can do without, necessarily,causing conflict is to verbally, call the litterer's attention to the location of the trash basket and point to it before they litter. Most of these people are subject to getting angry because most people do not like being corrected by someone they do not know. The problem is so widespread that one could be tempted to take cell phone pictures of litterers in the act of littering and save them for the city or township department of streets or find out where that person lives, collect all of their litter and dump it in their lawns. Unfortunately, that is also not feasible or right. It is a fact that the governing agencies for whom we are paying our tax money to keep the laws and ordinances we, as citizens support and vote for, are NOT ENFORCING THE LAWS using their proper authority. This is the REAL problem. The answer to this question is more than less, NO!

Answer 4

I think you should sit on a lawn chair outside and blow an air-horn at people when they litter.

Seriously, I hate litterers too. If you are not looking to start something, make some small signs that say "Please don't litter! Trash cans provided for your convenience" and place them along the side walk.

And, if you live in a state or country that fines its citizens for littering, give the police a call and report any frequent offenders.

Answer 5

I think no matter how you approach this, you gonna get some type of controversy. It's sad to see people littering. Maybe you can have a "neighborhood clean up day" put out flyer's to your neighbors and see how many show up. If it's a community effort you might get some results.

Answer 6

I have this going on here in this apartment complex that I live in, and telling management will do no good, some people place trash cans,
(and tie them up because of stupid people and windy weather) out where people can find them but this means they might have to walk a few feet.....

Answer 7

It's sometimes tough to be polite to people are so rude. You can try talking to them. Perhaps if they see you picking up the trash, time and time again, they will stop throwing it down ... maybe? Good luck!

Answer 8

There really isn't anything you could do or say that wouldn't make you come off as being a bit anal. Just try not to let it bother you so much. You can't change other peoples actions, only your reaction:)

Answer 9

I HATE people that litter! I would politely say "excuse me, I didn't know if you noticed but there is a trash can right over there."

Answer 10

This one has worked for me...

pick up what they discarded...
follow them...
And POLITELY state... "excuse me... you dropped this".
kindly hand it to them, and walk away.
I'ver personally NEVER had a problem with this, and the look ontheir face is effing PRICELESS!!!

And by the way... you'er not being confrontational...
You're being HELPFUL!!!