A recent extensive study by the charity Keep America Beautiful reveals a 34% decline in litter across the United States since 2020, marking notable environmental progress driven by education, community programs, and better infrastructure.
- Roadway litter down 22%, waterway litter down 45% since 2020
- Nearly 90% of Americans feel personal responsibility to reduce litter
- Coastal areas face higher litter densities requiring focused strategies
What happened
Keep America Beautiful's updated National Litter Study reports a 34% drop in litter across the U.S. since 2020, reducing the average number of litter pieces per person from 152 to 96. The study measured litter along roads, waterways, and coastal areas—the latter showing especially high litter concentrations.
Roadway litter decreased by 22%, falling from 23.7 billion to 18.4 billion pieces, while waterway litter saw an even sharper decline of 45%, dropping from 25.9 billion to 14.2 billion pieces. These improvements reflect the largest research effort ever conducted on litter's scope, causes, and impact in the country.
Why it feels good
This progress highlights how education, better waste disposal systems, local cleanup initiatives, and stronger community engagement are making a measurable difference. With nearly 90% of Americans feeling personally responsible and more than 90% agreeing litter reduction is a shared effort, a cultural shift toward environmental stewardship is underway.
The drop in litter shows what is possible when individuals, organizations, and governments partner effectively. Declines in pandemic-related PPE litter and overall plastic litter alongside a surge in cardboard reflect evolving consumer behaviors and growing public awareness. It is encouraging to see collective action translating into cleaner, healthier environments.
What to enjoy or watch next
Despite the progress, the study underscores that 35 billion pieces of litter remain nationwide, with coastal areas having 8 to 13 times more litter per mile than inland zones. This calls for targeted strategies to tackle coastal pollution and emerging challenges such as online shopping-related cardboard waste and increasing e-cigarette litter.
Looking forward, continued commitment to education, improved infrastructure, and community involvement will be vital. Scaling successful programs and closing existing gaps in waste management can help sustain momentum and further reduce litter pollution as the country approaches its landmark 250th year.