National Litter Pollution Monitoring System

Environ Conference

January 2005

Overview of PresentationOverview of Presentation

BackgroundBackground toto the the National Litter Pollution National Litter Pollution Monitoring System;Monitoring System;

The aim of the System; andThe aim of the System; and Litter Survey Results 2003.Litter Survey Results 2003.

Introduction

National Litter Pollution Monitoring System (NLPMS) sets out to answer three questions:

1. How littered is the country at local and national level?

2. What are the main constituent elements of litter pollution? and

3. What are the main causes of litter pollution?

Background to the Monitoring System

Philosophy:Philosophy:

‘‘If you can’t measure a problem, then you If you can’t measure a problem, then you can’t manage that problem’ (Is it getting can’t manage that problem’ (Is it getting better or worse?)better or worse?)

TES appointed as Litter Monitoring Body in TES appointed as Litter Monitoring Body in 1999 (design and quality control)1999 (design and quality control)

EMS ApproachEMS Approach

EMS=Environmental Management System;EMS=Environmental Management System; Overall Aim of EMS =Overall Aim of EMS =

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT Pro-active, Not ReactivePro-active, Not Reactive NOT to Penalise Poor PerformanceNOT to Penalise Poor Performance NOT to Develop Ranking (League Table)NOT to Develop Ranking (League Table) Continuous ImprovementContinuous Improvement

Implementing the Litter Monitoring System

Set Up PhaseSet Up Phase

Benchmark PhaseBenchmark Phase

Survey PhaseSurvey Phase

SetUp Phase - Implementation (Once Off)

Identify all locations of potentially polluting Identify all locations of potentially polluting buildingsbuildings and and sitessites;;

Assign to Assign to ‘Class’‘Class’ and and ‘Category’‘Category’; and; and Map Generators onto digital maps (using the Map Generators onto digital maps (using the

Litter Monitoring GIS softwareLitter Monitoring GIS software))..

GIS Module

Data Entry Module

Benchmark Litter Quantification Survey

• Quantify the litter present.

• Statistics will show what are the components of litter pollution.

• Annual statistics may be used to observe trends in litter composition

Litter Pollution Survey

• Monitoring tool to determine extent and severity of litter pollution.

• Track changes in pollution levels arising from altered litter management practices.

• Identifies litter blackspots.

Litter Pollution Survey

• Litter Pollution Index – indicates the severity of litter pollution

1 Unpolluted

2 Slightly Polluted

3 Moderately Polluted

4 Significantly Polluted

5 Grossly Polluted

Area Cleanliness Rating 1

Area Cleanliness Rating 2

Area Cleanliness Rating 3

Area Cleanliness Rating 4

Area Cleanliness Rating 5

National Litter Pollution Monitoring System

Survey Results 2003

Litter Surveys

• Litter Quantification Survey – types /origin

• Litter Pollution Survey – extent /severity

Cigarette Related Litter 49.78%

Food Related Litter 30.11%

Packaging Litter 13.78%

Paper Litter 3.96%

Miscellaneous 1.04%

Deleterious Litter 0.79%

Plastic Litter 0.42%

Bulky Litter 0.12%

National Litter Composition 2003

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Cigarette Related Litter

Food Related Litter

Packaging Litter

Paper Litter

Miscellaneous

Deleterious Litter

Plastic Litter

Bulky Litter

2002

2003

2002 53.87%19.83%19.04%4.02%1.25%0.64%1.09%0.26%

2003 49.78%30.11%13.78%3.96%1.04%0.79%0.42%0.12%

Cigarette Related Litter

Food Related Litter

Packaging Litter

Paper LitterMiscellaneousDeleterious

LitterPlastic LitterBulky Litter

Comparison of National Litter Composition 2002 - 2003

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

2002

2003

2002 5.5% 42.6% 39.7% 10.4% 1.9%

2003 4.4% 49.5% 35.2% 9.1% 1.9%

1 2 3 4 5

Comparison of Litter Pollution Indices 2002 - 2003

Findings

4.4% of areas were litter free;

50% of areas were slightly littered, an improvement of 7%;

The percentage of areas of moderately and significantly has decreased by 6%; and

The percentage of grossly polluted areas has remained unchanged at 2%.

Causative Factors of Litter Pollution

38.3%

13.2%

10.7%

8.6%

6.2%

4.9%

3.9%

3.1%

2.3%

1.9%

1.7%

1.6%

1.2%

1.1%

0.8%

0.6%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%

Passing Pedestrians

Passing Motorists

Retail Outlet

Gathering Point

Fast-food Outlet

Schools/School Children

Bus Stop

Places of Leisure/Entertainment

Bank ATM

Fly-tipping/Dumping

Bus/Train Station

Construction S ite

Overflowing Bins

Refuse Collection/Presentation

Bring Bank

Major Entertainment Event

Plastic Bags as a Percentage of National Litter Composition

5%

0.32% 0.25%

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

Plastic Bags (Shopping Bags)

Prior to LevyDec-02Aug-03

To Summarise: The National Litter Pollution Monitoring System:

• Is proving a useful tool for monitoring the composition, severity and causes of litter pollution;

• Improvement has been experienced in relation to the degree of litter pollution nationally; and

• Progress in implementation.

QUESTIONS??