Litter Problem Growing in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotians are littering more than they did four years ago.

A survey by the Department of Environment released today, Feb. 10, in Bible Hill shows an increase in litter of 21 per cent since 2004.

"We are disappointed that litter continues to be a problem in Nova Scotia," said David Morse, Minister of Environment. "Nova Scotians need to understand that there are serious environmental, economic, and social impacts when people do not dispose of their waste properly."

The survey was conducted by four members of the Nova Scotia Youth Conservation Corps in July and August of 2008. Students were hired to pick up litter from 55 randomly chosen sites across the province. They picked up more than 16,000 pieces of litter and divided it into six categories:

• tobacco
• snack foods
• grocery
• drink containers
• quick service
• miscellaneous.

Cigarette butts made up about three quarters of the litter collected. Litter from the snack food industry such as chip bags and candy bar wrappers, and the quick service industry including cups, straws, plates, food containers, also made up a large portion of the balance of the litter collected.

Results of the survey indicate that significant progress has been made in reducing drink container litter over the years. In 1989, when the first survey was conducted, more than 70 per cent of items picked up were drink containers. Since the deposit system for them was introduced in 1996, the number of drink containers picked up has been drastically reduced to only five per cent items collected.

"As Nova Scotia moves toward the goal of reducing the disposal rate to 300 kilograms of garbage per person, per year, the Department of Environment will continue to increase awareness about the litter problem," said Mr. Morse.

"We will spread the message that littering not only hurts the environment, but hurts Nova Scotia's image as an international leader in solid waste management."

Nova Scotia's goal is to have one of the cleanest and most sustainable environments in the world by 2020.

For a copy of the 2008 litter survey visit www.gov.ns.ca/nse/waste/links.asp .