A behavioral community program for litter control

The implementation of a large-scale community intervention program and the relative efficacy of three components with respect to antilitter behavior were analyzed. These components were (a) the availability of numerous trash receptacles, (b) publicity campaigns whose purpose was to make citizens aware of the importance of keeping the city clean and of the negative social and legal consequences of failing to do so, and (c) active participation of citizens in cleaning up and maintaining their neighborhood. Increasing the number of trash receptacles, when implemented alone or along with publicity campaigns, produced a minimal decrease in litter. However, an important decrease in litter was observed when active participation of citizens in cleaning up their neighborhood was added to the two previous components. This decrease in litter was maintained during the follow-up period.