The State of Texas Litter: TxDOT's Research Results
What do you know about litter in our state? The Texas Department of Transportation recently commissioned two studies to ascertain the state of litter across Texas; the Litter Attitudes and Behaviors (LA&B) report was a statewide phone and Internet online survey conducted in December 2009. The other, called VLS, or Visible Litter Study, was an analysis of litter and accumulation on Texas roadsides conducted between November 2008 - May 2009.

We've cherry-picked some of our favorite stats and listed them below, but invite you to take a look at the full extent of each study on the Don't Mess with Texas website.


Overall Findings
  • In 2005, large items like food-related litter constituted 29% of all roadside litter; in 2009, this figure fell to just 7%. (VLS)
  • Over the course of 2009, approximately 1.1 billion pieces of litter accumulated on our highways; while this represents a 33% increase over 2005, it marks an 11% decrease relative to 2001. (VLS)
  • Why the increase in litter since 2005? Cigarette butts! Tobacco trash - including nearly 400 million cigarette butts - comprised 43% of all litter on our roads. (VLS)
  • The Texas Dept. of State Heath Services estimates 18% of all Texans smoke, and six in 10 smokers admit they litter. What does that mean? It means that just 11% of Texans are responsible for 43% of all our litter! (LA&B)
According to the VLS, the amount of litter in nearly every category has increased since 2005 -- tobacco, cups and cans (non-alcoholic), construction items, household and personal, and automotive debris. But don't be discouraged! Through KTB and TxDOT joint programs and the ease of TxDOT's Report a Litterer hotline, all of us can do our part to reduce roadside litter across our wonderful state.