I’ve always wanted to start an anti-litter campaign in Miami, but haven’t decided on a way to approach it. Here are some ideas from Barcelona.

More over at AdPunch

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Yesterday I was discussing litter with a group of people. Someone mentioned that I probably had no idea who the Crying Indian is. He was right. Luckily, I’m pretty resourceful!

The PSA that became known as the "Crying Indian" was a public service announcement in 1971 as part of the Keep America Beautiful campaign. It seems that most people growing up in that era continue to recognize and remember the commercial.

We need something like this for the new generation. Watch the Crying Indian PSA. Do you remember it? Tell us your ideas for reaching the youth of today with anti-litter messages.

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Transit Miami’s Summer Transit Challenge was featured yesterday in the Miami Herald. It was a great column that highlighted the progress of the experiment to date. This week, I’ve got a brand new greenerMIAMI original video for you that highlights the Metromover ride on the 4th of July. View it below!

Previous Transit Challenge posts: Intro, Week 1, Week 2, Week 4

I’d also like to note that I was disappointed to see so many people just leave their trash on the ground after the fireworks were over (including the people directly behind me!). I believe the local governments should have active and visible anti-litter messages especially at special events. However, maybe we can coordinate one run by greenerMIAMI in the meantime. Contact us if you are interested in being a part of this.

In other delayed 4th of July green news, Tie a green ribbon on this Forth of July.

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Happy 4th of July! Have a great, safe holiday. Want to celebrate in a greener fashion? Our suggestion: Pick up some litter and dispose of it properly as you are enjoying your day outside.

Photo credit: Eldan, Flickr

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Go Heat! Wow, what a game! As part of a chillin’ Sunday, my husband and I went down to the AA Arena before the game last night, just to people watch.

It was a really fun atmosphere, with lots and lots of Heat fans dressed in white.

The crowd was excited, the band was playing, and people were dancing. Pictures of David Hasselhoff and variations on "Wade County" were everywhere.

You know what else was everywhere? Fliers. When are advertisers going to learn that people don’t look at fliers? It’s also the one piece of trash that apparently no one has an issue with tossing directly on the ground.

I would like to call out each of the flier advertisers individually, hoping that the public will join me in my disappointment of these companies & individuals. Booo! Holaamerica.com. Booo! Re-election campaign for Judge Karen Mills Francis. Boooo! Ring Warriors: IBF Junior Welterweight World Title. Boooo! Net10.

I would bet that I could count on my fingers how many of these fliers made it home. Again, I would like to encourage our readers: do not accept fliers. Show these advertisers that we don’t want to be reached this way.

And finally, Let’s Go Heat! Game 6, Tuesday in Dallas.

Update 6/19/06: In response to my direct complaint emailed to the campaign mentioned above, Karen Mills Francis replied:

I am in receipt of your email in reference to my campaign literature which was disseminated at one of the Heat Games. It was my realization of this very problem which prompted me to eliminate the use of palm cards at last nights game. The campaign only used persons carrying signs, which we took away from the area once the game began. Please know that I care a lot about the environment. I live on a canal in north Miami and it breaks my heart that people could carelessly throw thrash into the water where fish and other wildlife are trying to survive.I feel the same way about the trash I see in public and national parks.

Please know that I am truly sorry that my campaign overlooked the possibility that litter might be created as a result of distributing palm cards at such a major event and we will make every effort henceforth to be mindful of the environment in the future.

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I’ve got a few hot spots when it comes to topics that I like to research and discuss for greenerMIAMI. Buying local, public transportation, and trash (litter & recycling). I guess these topics jump out at me because there is no reason that each individual can’t do something positive in each of these areas. Although I hope that we can affect the governments to make city, county, state & national changes, I like to believe (and encourage) that each individual CAN make a difference.

Earlier this month as I was walking along the bayfront on Brickell Bay Drive, an area that consistently has a litter problem, I started to wonder: Is there a correlation between litter & distance/availability of trash cans?

I can certainly say that there is a correlation for me when it comes to picking up the trash. Yesterday I walked 8 blocks along Brickell Avenue to get from one trash can to the next. My hands were full by the 2nd block. I’m one of very few people with the patience to walk 8 blocks with a ton of dirty litter in their hands.

Vacant lots also prove to be problem areas, which is no surprise.

This will be an area that greenerMIAMI will continue to research, because litter is an issue that both the general public and the government can affect. If we can find conclusive data from other cities and studies on litter correlations, we will recommend them to the local government. Additionally, we’ll be looking into any existing educational programs in the Miami-Dade schools to educate children not to litter.

NEW JERSEY STUDY

Our research is starting with New Jersey, which has significant studies published on this topic. Quick notes from their report: 55% of litter was deliberate, other 45% accidental (falling from a flatbed truck, etc.), with the accidental rates falling when not on a ‘major’ highway. Males were found to be the majority of the litterers, with ages under 30 for deliberate and over 30 for accidental.

Where does the litter go? The NJ study found that 41% is picked up (by individual or garbage collection), 24% bio- or photo-degrades (this is mostly vacant lots), 18% washes into a body of water, and the remainder is covered by soil or other buildup and is buried.

Visible litter was 70% more visible on freeway and rural roads, but urban streets were ranked a higher priority for litter reduction because more people encounter the urban litter.

States with advertising based (anti-litter) programs show 48% lower litter rates. Enforcement programs are also highly effective.

The study DOES address receptacle (trash can) effectiveness. Using studies from Alaska, California, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nebraska & Washington, as well as Richmond, VA and Philadelphia, the data shows that "litter receptacles are fairly effective in reducing litter, averaging 40% lower rates in urban & rural locales."

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Baynanza 2006 was a great experience for my husband and me. Assigned to clean-up Vizcaya, we headed over there at the assigned 9 am. After checking in, with minimal instruction, we were handed a trash bag and sent over to where the bay meets the land.

Entering Vizcaya, you’d think that there is no way that this clean up will be necessary. The grounds are impeccably maintained. But as we neared the water’s edge, we saw what all of the fuss was about.

These first pictures were taken from a small gazebo. It was all just covered in trash. This trash, as compared with another section that we were cleaning, seemed to be "newer"…recently arrived, in my opinion. Amazingly enough, the area was almost completely clean when we finished.

Vizcaya had registered 250 people to participate on Saturday, April 22, but only about 150 showed up. It is hot and exhausting work, and my thighs still hurt from so much bending and squatting, but it was worth it. Very rarely do we get to participate in something that has such rapid results, where we can enjoy the fruits of our labor.

So, what kind of trash was it, you ask? Lots of plastic bottles and bottle caps, straws, pens, plastic bags, styrofoam, milk type containers, shoes, rope, and lumber. At the end, many were joking around that you really couldn’t be surprised about what you would find, be it a human head or buried treasure. Edmundo pulled out half of a big leather chair, which I thought was probably the weirdest and maybe biggest thing that we found. I heard one of the mothers stating that they picked Vizcaya because it has the fewest amount of needles, where as so many other sites are just covered in needles. I did not see any in Vizcaya.

The styrofoam and the white plastic milk jugs were frustrating, because they break off into little pieces, and it’s tough to get it all. Rope and plastic bags are tough because they wrap themselves around the plants and trees, making it tough to remove them without cutters, which we didn’t have.

Finally, I think it’s great that so many children were involved. We had several girl scout and boy scout troops, as well as kids with their parents. It is important for them to be a part of this - it is educational, and anyway they love to get dirty.

Thanks to everyone who organized and participated in this event. It was a great experience, and I hope to have a whole GreenerMiami team next year!

More "before" and "action" photos:

After photo:

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I wanted to remind our GreenerMiami readers that we are seeking 18 more people to pledge to pick up one piece of litter everyday for one month.

It’s a pledge you can find here on PledgeBank - and it will bring us towards a greener, cleaner, Miami.

I was encouraged to read Living Green in LA’s 10 Free Ways to be Green post…#2, when you see litter, pick it up!

Please join our pledge…we set a goal of 20 people, and we are terribly behind. It doesn’t take much to make a difference…every little bit counts!

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It’s time to sign up for Baynanza. Time is running out…registration ends on Monday, April 3 (this coming Monday) for the event that will take place on Saturday, April 22, 9am-12pm.

What it is: Baynanza is a Biscayne Bay Clean Up Day, and this year, it falls exactly on Earth Day! What better way to celebrate Earth Day than picking up trash to clean up the shorelines?

Where it is: Lots of places! Locations in the North, Central, Keys (Virginia, Biscayne), South Central, and South. Check out the map of locations. A couple of the locations have already booked up, but there are still 23 locations available! Sign up sooner for a better chance of getting your top pick.

What you need to bring: Extra water, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, hat with visor, WORK GLOVES, sunglasses, old/ugly closed toed sneakers.

What you’ll get: Water, Free T-Shirt (as long as you register by deadline), a sense of community, a cleaner Biscayne Bay!

How to register: Register online at the county’s DERM/Baynanza website by Monday, April 3, 2006. The event will take place on Saturday, April 22, 2006 from 9 am to 12 noon.

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I know, I know, "Is this girl ever going to stop talking about TRASH?" It’s just that the litter around here has been driving me nuts lately.

I’ve started a pledge on PledgeBank.com, and I’m hoping some of you locals (Miami, South Florida in general) will join me. I’ve pledged to pick up at least one piece of litter everyday for a month…only if 20 other locals will join me in the effort. GreenerMiami is trying to get to a "Litter Free Miami".

All you have to do is sign up…and maybe tell your friends about it, too. Just think, one piece of litter a day. That’s not too bad, right? Maybe someone will see you doing it and get inspired to: 1) do the same, 2) stop littering.

So check out the details and pass it on. Litter Free Miami @ PledgeBank.com

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