THE 2011 AMERICAN STATE LITTER SCORECARD: USA’s Cleanest and Dirtiest StatesIncludes Data, Scores, Charts

by Steve SpacekThe 2011 American Society for Public Administration Conference

Harborplace Renaissance HotelSunday March 13, 2011

Baltimore, MarylandCopyright 2014, 2011 Steve Spacek Public Consulting. NO COMMERCIAL USE. This is Public Record.

Why a State Litter Scorecard?

Consequences of Littering/Dumping Amongst States: Significant social costs. --Governmental Neglect: Influences Why Persons Litter/Dump Public Properties --Public Litter Prevention, Abatement: Mandated Function of American State Governance --Good, Bad Economy: States Accomplish Typically “Piecemeal” Approaches to Litter Prevention--Over 800 Americans Die Annually in Debris/Litter-attributed Motor Vehicle Accidents

Necessity of Litter Research for States:--Numerous states lack efforts to collect, provide uniform litter abatement --outcome measures--State policymakers, administrators, organizations, citizens interested in effectual outcomes

Copyright 2014, 2011, Steve Spacek Public Service Consulting. NOT FOR COMMERCIAL USE.

Figure 1: Map of BEST, WORST State Results of The 2011 American State Litter Scorecard

Table 1: State Condition Results for THE 2011 American State Litter Scorecard

State Rating

1 Washington BEST 25 Alaska AVERAGE2 California BEST 25 Kansas AVERAGE3 Iowa BEST 25 South Dakota AVERAGE3 Maine BEST 28 South Carolina AVERAGE5 Connecticut BEST 29 Arizona BELOW AVERAGE6 Rhode Island BEST 29 Idaho BELOW AVERAGE7 Vermont BEST 29 Michigan BELOW AVERAGE8 Oregon BEST 29 West Virginia BELOW AVERAGE9 New Hampshire BEST 33 Hawaii BELOW AVERAGE10 North Carolina BEST 33 Tennessee BELOW AVERAGE10 New York BEST 35 New Mexico BELOW AVERAGE12 Maryland ABOVE AVERAGE 36 Arkansas BELOW AVERAGE12 Nebraska ABOVE AVERAGE 36 Delaware BELOW AVERAGE14 Massachusetts ABOVE AVERAGE 38 Colorado BELOW AVERAGE14 New Jersey ABOVE AVERAGE 39 Montana WORST14 Utah ABOVE AVERAGE 39 North Dakota WORST17 Florida ABOVE AVERAGE 39 Texas WORST18 Minnesota ABOVE AVERAGE 42 Georgia WORST19 Missouri ABOVE AVERAGE 42 Illinois WORST19 Wisconsin ABOVE AVERAGE 42 Oklahoma WORST19 Wyoming ABOVE AVERAGE 45 Indiana WORST22 Virginia AVERAGE 46 Alabama WORST23 Ohio AVERAGE 47 Nevada WORST 23 Pennsylvania AVERAGE 47 Mississippi WORST 49 Louisiana WORST 50 Kentucky WORST 

Copyright 2014, 2011, S. Spacek Public Service Consulting. NO COMMERCIAL USE. This is Public Record

AL 0.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +0.5 +1.0 -2.5 +3.5 -4.5 +0.5 +2.0 +5.5

AK 0.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +4.5 +2.5 -1.0 +1.5 -4.5 0.0 +3.5 +11.5

AZ 0.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +1.5 +0.5 -3.0 +3.0 -2.0 +3.5 +1.5 +10.0

AR 0.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +1.0 +1.5 -5.0 +4.0 -3.0 +3.0 +2.0 +8.5

CA 0.0 +5.0 +5.0 +5.0 +4.0 +2.0 -2.0 +0.5 -1.0 +4.5 0.0 +23.0

CO 0.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +0.5 0.0 -5.5 +2.0 -1.5 +4.5 +3.0 +8.0

CT 0.0 +5.0 +5.0 0.0 +3.0 +4.5 -1.0 +1.5 -3.0 +4.0 +0.5 +19.5

DE 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +5.0 +1.5 0.0 -4.0 +2.0 -4.0 +1.5 +1.5 +8.5

FL 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +5.0 +4.5 +4.0 -3.0 0.0 -4.0 +2.5 +0.5 +14.5

GA 0.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +0.5 +0.5 -2.5 +4.0 -1.5 +0.5 0.0 +6.5

HI 0.0 +5.0 0.0 0.0 +4.5 +4.0 -3.5 +0.5 -3.5 +2.5 0.0 +9.5

ID 0.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +3.0 +2.5 -5.0 +2.0 -2.5 +0.5 +4.5 +10.0

IL 0.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +2.5 +1.0 -3.0 +0.5 -3.5 +2.0 +2.0 +6.5

IA 0.0 +5.0 0.0 +5.0 +2.5 +4.0 -4.5 +2.5 -0.5 +2.5 +3.5 +20.0

IN 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 +3.5 +1.5 -4.0 +4.0 -1.5 0.0 +2.5 +6.0

KS 0.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +1.5 +2.0 -5.5 +3.0 -1.0 +2.5 +4.0 +11.5

KY 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 +1.5 +1.0 -3.5 +3.5 -4.5 +1.0 +1.0 0.0

LA 0.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +2.0 +2.0 -5.5 +1.5 -5.0 0.0 +1.0 +1.0

ME 0.0 +5.0 +5.0 0.0 +3.5 +3.0 -1.5 +1.0 -1.5 +4.5 +1.5 +20.5

MD 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +5.0 +1.0 +4.0 -2.0 +0.5 -2.5 +4.0 +0.5 +15.5

MA 0.0 +5.0 0.0 +5.0 +1.0 +4.5 -1.0 0.0 -3.0 +3.0 +0.5 +15.0

MI 0.0 +5.0 0.0 0.0 +3.0 0.0 -3.0 +1.0 -2.0 +3.5 +2.5 +10.0

MN 0.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +2.0 +4.5 -4.5 +1.0 -0.5 +3.0 +3.5 +14.0

MS 0.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +2.5 +2.5 -5.5 +4.0 -4.5 0.0 +1.0 +5.0

MO 0.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +4.0 +3.5 -4.0 +3.5 -2.5 +1.0 +3.0 +13.5

Table 2: Indicators, Scores, Results: 2011 American State Litter Scorecard State OB1 OB2 OB3 OB4 OB5 OB6 OB7 OB8 OB9 SU1 SU2 Final

MT 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +3.0 -5.5 +4.0 -4.5 +1.5 +4.0 +7.5

NE 0.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +4.0 +2.0 -4.5 +3.5 -0.5 +2.0 +4.0 +15.5

NV 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 +4.0 +2.0 -5.0 +2.5 -1.5 +1.0 +2.0 +5.0

NH 0.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +5.0 +3.5 -1.5 +0.5 -0.5 +3.5 +1.5 +17.0

NJ +5.0 0.0 +5.0 0.0 +2.5 +4.0 -1.5 0.0 -4.0 +4.0 0.0 +15.0

NM 0.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 0.0 +0.5 -4.5 +2.5 -1.0 +4.0 +2.5 +9.0

NY 0.0 +5.0 0.0 +5.0 +3.0 +4.5 -1.0 0.0 -3.0 +3.0 0.0 +16.5

NC 0.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +3.0 +3.5 -3.5 +4.5 -2.0 +3.5 +2.5 +16.5

ND 0.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +2.0 +2.0 -5.0 +4.5 -5.0 +0.5 +3.5 +7.5

OH +5.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +0.5 +2.5 -2.5 +2.0 -4.0 +2.0 +1.5 +12.0

OK 0.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +0.5 +1.5 -4.0 +3.0 -3.0 +0.5 +3.0 +6.5

OR 0.0 +5.0 +5.0 0.0 +3.5 +0.5 -5.0 +1.5 -0.5 +4.5 +3.5 +18.0

PA 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +5.0 +3.5 +1.0 -3.5 +1.0 -4.0 +3.0 +1.0 +12.0

RI +5.0 0.0 +5.0 +5.0 +4.5 +1.5 -1.0 0.0 -2.5 +1.0 +0.5 +19.0

SC 0.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +1.0 +1.0 -2.0 +4.5 -1.5 +2.0 +0.5 +10.5

SD 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +3.5 -2.5 +4.5 -4.0 +1.0 +4.0 +11.5

TN 0.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +2.0 +3.0 -3.0 +3.0 -3.5 +2.0 +1.0 +9.5

TX 0.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +1.0 +3.5 -4.5 +3.0 -2.5 0.0 +2.0 +7.5

UT 0.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +2.5 +2.5 -2.5 +2.0 -1.0 +2.5 +4.0 +15.0

VT 0.0 +5.0 0.0 0.0 +4.0 +4.5 -1.5 +1.5 -2.0 +4.0 +3.0 +18.5

VA +5.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +1.5 0.0 -2.0 +2.5 -3.5 +1.5 +2.5 +12.5

WA +5.0 0.0 +5.0 +5.0 +2.0 +3.0 -1.5 +1.0 -1.0 +4.5 +3.0 +26.0

WV 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 +4.5 +3.0 -2.0 +4.5 -3.5 +1.5 +2.0 +10.0

WI 0.0 0.0 +5.0 0.0 +3.5 +0.5 -3.5 +2.5 -2.0 +3.0 +4.5 +13.5

WY 0.0 0.0 0.0 +5.0 +5.0 +1.5 -4.0 +3.5 -2.5 +1.5 +3.5 +13.5

State OB1 OB2 OB3 OB4 OB5 OB6 OB7 OB8 OB9 SU1 SU2 Final

INDICATORS:

OB1: States with Litter Taxation (2011)OB2: States with Container Deposit Rules/Legislation (2011)OB3: States with Comprehensive Recycling Rules/Legislation (2011)OB4: States with Litter Prevention Slogans (2011)OB5: Per Person Overall State Environmental Expenditure (2006)OB6: Per Person Daily Waste Disposal by State (2007)OB7: States with Highest Chance for Debris-related Fatal Vehicle Collision (2008)OB8: Integrity of State Thoroughfare Maintenance Disbursement Costs (2008)OB9: State Public Corruption Convictions per Population Proportion (2008)

SU1: Environmental Responsibility Reputation of State Governors (2009)SU2: State Licensed Drivers Knowledge of Littering and other Road Laws (2009)

Copyright 2014, 2011, Steve Spacek Public Service Consulting. NOT FOR COMMERCIAL USE.

Table 3: BEST States of 2011 American State Litter Scorecard

1 Washington BEST (top)

2 California BEST

3 Iowa BEST

3 Maine BEST

5 Connecticut BEST

6 Rhode Island BEST

7 Vermont BEST

8 Oregon BEST

9 New Hampshire BEST

10 North Carolina BEST

10 New York BEST  

Copyright 2014, 2011 Steve Spacek Public Service Consulting. NOT FOR COMMERCIAL USE. This is Public Record.

Table 4: WORST States of The 2011 American State Litter Scorecard

1 Kentucky WORST2 Louisiana WORST3 Mississippi WORST3 Nevada WORST5 Alabama WORST6 Indiana WORST7 Georgia WORST7 Illinois WORST7 Oklahoma WORST10 Montana WORST10 North Dakota WORST10 Texas WORST

Copyright 2014, 2011, Steve Spacek Public Service Consulting. NOT FOR COMMERCIAL USE. This is Public Record.

Common Characteristics: 2011 WORST States 12 states deemed “WORST” (KY, LA, MS, NV, AL, IN, GA, IL, OK, MT, ND, TX)

--NO Litter Taxation, NO Container Deposit Legislation, NO Comprehensive Recycling Legislation. --Majority had Below Average Environmental Responsibility Reputations of Governors

--Below Average Knowledge of Littering and other Road Laws by Licensed Drivers-- At or Above U.S. Average Per Person Daily Waste Disposals;

--Above Average Thoroughfare Maintenance Disbursement Costs

--Above Average Debris-related Fatal Vehicle Collisions per Population Size/Vehicles Registered

--Above Average Public Corruption Convictions per Population Proportion.

--Seven WORST states in the South; three, the Midwest; two, the West, none in the Northeast.

Copyright 2014, 2011, Steve Spacek Public Service Consulting. NOT FOR COMMERCIAL USE. This is Public Record.

Figure 2: Changes in National Status Designations between 2008 and 2010 American State Litter Scorecards

Changes in Scorecard National Status Designations: 2008 -2011

--14 states improved their statuses

--17 states had status declines

--19 states had no status changes.

--Biggest three-year improvements: North Carolina, California, Florida. --Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, North Dakota, Virginia had greatest status designation declines.

Copyright 2014, 2011, Steve Spacek Public Service Consulting. NOT FOR COMMERCIAL USE. This is Public Record.

CONCLUSION

--Budget Shortfall Crisis Could Hamper State Short-term Litter Abatements.

--Some States Engaged in Historically Poor Removals During Good Economic Times

--Observation: Some States Performing Double-Standard Standard Abatement Practices by Location: Appropriate litter removals on less populated, rural roadways but seemingly none upon horrifically littered, urbanized public spaces (NJ, PA, NY, CT, MI)

--Littering Remains Danger to Public Health, Safety, Welfare

--Scorecard Not Definitive: Contributing Inquiry Into Poorly Probed Matter.

Copyright 2014, 2011, S. Spacek Public Service Consulting. NOT FOR COMMERCIAL USE

Examples of Indicator Data Sources, 2011 Scorecard(some research data allowed to Author by source, with advance written permission)

Container Recycling InstituteGMAC Insurance

GreenopiaHartgen, Karanam, Fields, Kerscher and MooreNational Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationNational Solid Waste Management Association

Shireman, McFadden, Newdorf and Noga50 State Governments

USA TodayU.S. Census Bureau

U.S. Department of Justice

Copyright 2014, 2011 S. Spacek Public Service Consulting. NOT FOR COMMERCIAL USE

Illegal Littering/DumpingBreeds Diseases; KILLS

Humans, Pets, Landscapes!!

Copyright 2014, S. Spacek Public Service Consulting. NOT FOR COMMERCIAL USE.

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