Gigantic's presentation at the 2018 California Resource Recovery Association conference looks at the challenge of finding custom tailored solutions for environmental problems of littering, pollution and illegal dumping.
11. Online Survey Revealed
• Focus on single-family homes
• Marin is Hyper Environmentally Conscious
• Focus on Weeds.
• Use term “Weed Killer” (not glyphosate, no
brand names)
• 72% of respondents use the Internet for
gardening advice.
28. What is
Observational Research?
• Observe in real-life
setting or naturally
occurring situation
• With or without
interaction
• Replicable methods
• Consider social,
psychological risks
29. Why Observational Research?
• Want to answer “how” or “what”
• Little is known about a topic
• Actual behavior different than
self-reports
• Real-life setting is relevant
By understanding HOW people
litter, we can better inform effective
program design and outreach.
30. Case Study: Alameda Countywide
Clean Water Program
• Objective: Litter reduction, with
focus on bus stops
• 9 pilot sites: Hayward, Oakland,
Unincorporated Alameda Co.
• Survey Observational Research
E 12th St & 7th Ave, Oakland
32. CWP Research Findings
• Lots of Cigarette Butts!
• Oakland 36%; Hayward 33%;
Castro Valley 28%
• No “No smoking” signs
• 9.4% of people littered
• Most litterers were smokers
Paper
14%
Cigarette
Butts
49%
Foil/food Wrapper
7%
Food Container
3%
Food Remnants
8%
Napkin/
Tissue
5%
Misc.
Plastic
6%
Unknown
5%
Other
3%
Trash Characterization:
A St & Grand St, Hayward
33. CWP Recommendations
1. Install Ash Receptacles
2. Install Anti-Littering Signage
• Test norming message: “9 out of 10 bus
riders here always use the trash can”
• Test enforcement message: “Please
Always Use the Trash Can. Littering is
against the law.”
34. CWP Recommendations
CWP decided not to move forward with pilot campaign:
Grand St & A St, Hayward
• Couldn’t place signage at bus stops
countywide in an equitable way.
• Smoking not allowed... ash receptacles
would violate ordinances.
35. Case Study: City of Fremont
• Issue: Cigarette butt littering at
commercial businesses
• List of 127 businesses w/ past
enforcement, ongoing cig butt issues
• Requested outreach tool
• Recommended 15 site observations to
inform outreach tool
37. Fremont Research Findings
• Lots of butts (60%: at least 5 per sq yd)
• 40% - No ash receptacles
• 67% - No signs (No Smoking w/in 25ft..)
• No relationship between cig butt litter
& business type, ethnicity, language
• No signage at sites with most butts
38. Fremont Recommendations
1. Provide Training Guide & Signage
for Business Owners & Managers
• How to buy & install ash
receptacles and signs
• How to educate & remind
employees and public
• Employee
Pledge
39. Fremont Recommendations
2. Pilot a Creative Receptacle
• “Vote with Your Butt”
• Pilot at highly littered sites with engaged managers
• Measure cig butt litter before and after