Environmental
and Safety Impacts
Littering is not only unsightly, it can cause environmental and health problems. Cigarette butts, for example, contain toxic chemicals that can end up in storm drains and contaminate our water systems. Trash and other items falling from unsecured loads can cause serious traffic accidents. Debris on roadways nationwide causes 25,000 accidents each year and more than 80 fatalities. Between 1999 and 2001, Arizona reported five fatal accidents due to road debris.
