Litter Collection in Two Urban Parks

Urban parks provide numerous social, environmental, and health benefits, yet their effectiveness is often hindered by litter pollution.This study examines the relationship between litter accumulation, waste receptacle availability, and park proximity to high-traffic roads.Litter was collected and analyzed from two Cleveland, Ohio parks: Wade Oval Park and Fairview Park.Results indicate that Wade Oval Park, despite having more waste receptacles, exhibited a higher quantity and diversity of litter compared to Fairview Park.This suggests that proximity to high-traffic roads has a stronger correlation with litter accumulation than the number of waste receptacles.The study highlights potential limitations, including the small sample size and single-season data collection, which may not fully capture seasonal or behavioral variations.Future research should expand to multiple parks across different times of the year to assess additional factors influencing litter patterns.Findings from this study can inform urban planning efforts aimed at improving park cleanliness by optimizing waste receptacle placement and addressing external sources of litter pollution, ultimately enhancing the environmental and recreational value of urban parks.