Types of Trash
found on Freeways
Litter found on freeways includes fast food wrappers, Styrofoam cups, napkins, plastic utensils, snack-food wrappers, soft drink/beer bottles and cans, water bottles, paper bags, tissues, plastic sheets, boxes, clothes, newspapers, magazines, metal foil, anti-freeze and motor oil containers, grease, paint thinner, ladders, tires, and much more. Recent research conducted by MAG and ADOT asked residents statewide what they saw most on Arizona freeways.
“Severe” Litter
According to the research, soda and beer cans top the list of items that residents are most likely to label as a “severe” litter problem. Soda cans or bottles were mentioned by 34 percent of respondents, beer cans or bottles by 31 percent, while an additional 12 percent mentioned water bottles. More than one in five residents also mentioned plastic items and cigarette butts as litter they consider to be a severe problem (27% and 22%, respectively). Paper, food wrappers, and tires were also mentioned by more than one in six residents (16% to 18%).
Truck Litter
Truck drivers were most likely to report that soda cans and bottles are the most common type of litter that would be found in the back of their truck (mentioned by 20%). Plastic bags/other plastics (11%), small pieces of paper (9%), as well as construction (10%) or lawn debris (7%) made up most of the other types of litter that can be found in truck beds. Twelve percent of truck drivers indicated that they do not put any type of litter in the bed of their truck.
