Keeping the Garden State Clean
They don’t call us the Garden State for nothing. New Jersey is known throughout the United States for having the best bagels, pizza, beautiful beaches, diverse cultures, and Bruce Springsteen. Despite our notable culture, New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the United States, which makes us a prime dumping ground for toxic and non-toxic waste. Litter includes waste that is intentionally and unintentionally disposed of by humans. Litter and illegal dumping, negatively impacts and threatens humans, the environment, economic development, the safety of our water and climate. Litter also carries a significant financial cost and requires New Jersey tax dollars to cleanup.
Litter, universally known as improperly managed waste, exists in every aspect of our life in New Jersey. As litter breaks down in the environment, by-products, chemicals and microparticles are released, affecting the quality of life for humans, wildlife, and our environment. Nearly 350 million plastic bags were littered on United States roadways and waterways in 2020 and it takes around 1,000 years for one plastic bag to degrade in a landfill. According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, Americans use around 380 billion plastic bags and wraps each year, only about 5% are recycled. Littering is a major concern not only for New Jerseyans but for all mankind.
Although, the COVID-19 pandemic reduced transportation and air pollution, it exacerbated littering and illegal dumping across the State. As New Jersey went into lockdown, the increased use of plastics and other disposable and perishable products, ultimately generated tons of additional waste. Studies estimate 207.1 million PPE items were littered along United States roadways and waterways in 2020 and was twice as likely to be found along waterways as it was along roadways.