Hot Springs launches "True Cost of Litter" study | Environment

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. -- Hot Springs has been chosen by Keep America Beautiful as one of only ten cities in the United States to launch a pilot litter study into the "True Cost of Litter." The study will ask every business, organization, place of worship and the like in Garland County to take about three minutes to fill out an online form at www.hotspringsgreen.org that will assist in the assessment of the hidden cost that every citizen in the county pays, both directly and indirectly.

This study will help Hot Springs and Garland County government along with companies and organizations to plan ahead and develop new strategies to deal with this "Quiet, well-camouflaged monster that is eating away at our community's limited funds," Hot Springs/Garland County Beautification Commission Executive Director Adam Roberts stated.

The study format, developed by Bob Horton of Irving, Texas, will evaluate the pilot program’s  initial success before attempting an official nationwide program. When last field tested, the program generated local data reflecting $42 per year per capita.  This figure closely approximated the outcome of the Keep America Beautiful 2007-08 national examination of the high cost of litter, which conservatively estimated the cost of clean up to be $38 per year per capita. For more information, call 501-655-2161.