The document analyzes litter removal performance across southern states. It finds that most southern states rank below average, with Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, South Carolina, and Tennessee ranking the worst. These states have high litter-related fatal car accidents, low per capita environmental spending, poor livability scores, and weak anti-litter laws and enforcement. The document calls for states to provide more uniform litter data and take stronger action to address littering issues in the region.

1. THE [SeCOPA] SOUTHERN STATE LITTER SCORECARD : Assessing Statewide Environmental Quality Through Public Property Litter Removal Performance Steve Spacek, M.P.A. The 2008 Southeastern Public Administration Conference Orlando, Florida September 27, 2008

2. Welcome to Florida! Nationally Ranks “ Below Average ” in Statewide Public Property Litter Eradication

3. Maintaining a Clean Environment : Litter Eradication/Abatement is a source reduction physical activity that provides a healthy, enjoyable surface environment for humans and wildlife . Littering :Throwing of small amounts of trash/garbage in small, individualized portions. Dumping is littering on a larger, voluminous scale. Both are environmental crimes creating dangers to public health, safety and welfare.

4. Environmental Injustice : Litter/Source Reduction Activities Amongst the SeCOPA States are UNEQUAL , UNJUST!! Poor Litter Eradication has led to damaged scenic environments, breeding grounds for diseases, insects and rodents, and wildlife devastation. In 2005, at least 265 r esidents of the SECOPA states died as result of traffic accidents caused by littering/movable debris along roadways.* States Are Lacking in efforts to collect uniform litter abatement data for research comparisons (i.e. volumes of waste collected by mileage/location, budget funding sources/expenditures; number of required annual/seasonal cleanups; performance standard surveys; persons cited/prosecuted for infractions). Most SeCOPA States are “increasingly plagued with [appalling health] symptoms produced by [tolerated] cultural and political maladies, leaving their air, water and land conditions ‘seriously contaminated’”** * 2005 Traffic Facts , NHTSA. **Bullard; Cochran, A., U. S. Department of Justice- Law.

5. HUMANS Cause Littering: Factors Crafting An Unique Environmental Injustice on The South Reasons to Litter : Litter Begets Litter; Apathy; Inconvenience; Community Attitudes; Entitlement; Class Alienation, Greed/Ignorance* Governmental Neglect: Millions spent to combat litter, but humans disrespect money and efforts spent. Also, indifference and negligence by some officials makes for persistent litter problems* State/Regional Environmental Values : Early settlers (especially Scotch- Irish) perpetuate Judeo-Christian beliefs: Bend nature to meet man’s needs. Deep South, western Gulf Coast: Weakest Environmental Values . ** State/Regional Political Culture : Traditionalism (The South): little or no government intrusion--“Non-reception in fostering ecological improvements.”*** Corporatist-influenced Government : Government Decision-Making “mirrors whims of business.” Companies, “outsiders” buy natural resources at bargain prices. Environmental risks were unknown, disregarded--traded for broadened tax base.**** Perception by Law Enforcement, Prosecutors, Courts: “Not a real crime.” “Simply not enforced, or with lowest Priority” Be witnessed for written citation. Limited convictions: “Insufficient evidence or inability’ to recognize evidence.” NO incarcerations!***** Persons of Low-Income, Color (Blacks, Hispanics): : Environmentalism NOT a Priority. Slow to challenge violators. “Mistrust [of government and corporations]…engendered amongst these groups.” “Resented” environmental reforms as misdirecting tax dollars to improve social, economic plights. Movement: “Too white,” “mainstream.”****** *Bisbort; City Image,; Henning; McAndrews; Ockels; U.S. Justice-National Law. ** Hays; White in McAndrew. ***Elazar; Neal; Vig and Kraft. **** Bullard; Camacho; Clarke and Cortner; Feagin and Feagin in Bullard; Miller J.; Miller V.;Sussman, Daynes and West; *****Bisbort; National Center, “Review Laws;” US. Justice- Environmental ; U.S. Justice-National Laws.****** Bullard; Camacho ; Vig and Kraft; Will in Bullard.

7. The [SECOPA] Southern State Litter Scorecard The attempt to rank ten SeCOPA southern states, using results from The American State Litter Scorecard , for public property environmental outcomes through overall litter removal efforts . Cumulative Objective, Subjective Measures chosen for noteworthiness: Objective : Standing determined using reliable, limited, up-to-date scientific data. Subjective : Standing determined using previous emotive , public-sector supplementary scored evaluations .

9. Subjective ◊ State Political Culture Scale Score ◊ State Public Corruption Conviction Rate ◊ State Government Performance Grade ◊ State Highway Performance Score Sources: Corporate; Haregen and Karanam; Koven and Mausloff; Pew.

10. Methodology Unit of Analysis : Ten American Southeastern-most [SeCOPA] states: Alabama , Arkansas , Georgia , Florida , Kentucky , Louisiana , Mississippi , North Carolina , South Carolina , Tennessee . Data Source Providers: Governments ; Academicians ; Trade Organizations; Think Tanks; Associations — regularly used in competent scholarly research . Scoring Rubric : Created for each objective, subjective factor. Calculated, aggregated by state. Hierarchal rankings, national designations derived from computations.

11. SCORECARD SUMMARY: SeCOPA, Nearby Southern and Selected States Objective Subjective Designation Remarks Mississippi 50 50 WORST 1,2,3,5,6 Louisiana 45 49 WORST 1,,3,5,6 Alabama 43 48 WORST 1,2,3,5,7,8 Arkansas 47 47 WORST 1,2,3,5,6 South Carolina 44 46 WORST 3,4,5 Tennessee 41 43 WORST 3,5 Kentucky 42 42 WORST 2,3,4,6,9 N orth Carolina 40 41 WORST 3,5 Georgia 34 37 BELOW AVERAGE 5 Florida 33 35 BELOW AVERAGE 6,8 VA 10 10 BEST TX 38 38 BELOW AVERAGE NY 19 24 ABOVE AVERAGE IL 29 32 BELOW AVERAGE OH 25 27 AVERAGE MO 27 25 AVERAGE MI 35 28 BELOW AVERAGE CA 31 36 BELOW AVERAGE WY 5 12 BEST NV 49 44 WORST VT 1 4 BEST MN 4 1 BEST REMARKS: 1=High Litter Fatal Crash Deaths 2=Low Per Person Environ. Spending 3=Poor Statewide Livability 4=High Per Person Waste Disposal Uncitizen -friendly Political Administrative Culture 6=Very High Public Servant Corruption 7=Poor State Gov’t Performance 8=Poor Hwy. Admin. Performance 9=No Anti-Litter Slogan

13. Conclusion/Recommendations Littering: Remains an harmful Injustice across The South ! Numerous States: “In the rear” or secretive/non-compliant, in providing uniform, categorical litter abatement data for scientific analysis; many are not performing mandated duties paid for or expected with the PEOPLE’ S money. Citizens ARE still losing lives. Laws are not enforced; convictions/fines not tough enough. Polls : Many believe public sector “Not working enough to protect the environment.” The Scorecard : A “call” to REAL action, to eliminate inattentiveness into a poorly probed yet DEADLY matter.