Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) and Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser are proud to introduce the “Put the Brakes on Litter” campaign in partnership with the Louisiana Automobile Dealer Association (LADA). This campaign will distribute litter kits and educational signage to participating car dealerships in Louisiana with the goal of educating motorists on the importance of roadside litter prevention.
“Each year, local governments and other agencies spend more than $91 million cleaning up litter and illegal dumping. It’s time we turn the tide on littering, and I am excited to launch this new partnership with Louisiana’s auto dealers,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “Not only will this help prevent more waste from accumulating in our communities, but it will also reduce the burden on taxpayers who are footing the bill to clean it up. The solution is simple, but it takes all of us to do our part.”
“This campaign is a result of KLB’s 2023 Louisiana Litter Study, which found that there are 143.8 million pieces of litter on our roadways,” said Susan Russell, KLB Executive Director. “Motorists are the main source of roadside litter, so this campaign is an important opportunity for teaching and empowering motorists to prevent litter from happening in the first place.”
KLB has sent campaign materials to 36 participating dealerships across Louisiana. Participating dealerships receive litter kits for vehicle buyers. Each litter kit contains the following:
- A disposable litter bag for the motorist to use for their trash.
- An informational rack card explaining the contents of the kit and listing litter prevention tips.
- A pocket ashtray for cigarette disposal. If the motorist does not smoke, it is recommended that they give the pocket ashtray to someone who does.
- A car cupholder coaster with the litter hotline number. Motorists are encouraged to call 855-LA-Litter to report a litterer’s plate information and vehicle make.
“Louisiana is full of natural beauty and one of the easiest ways to see it is by driving our roads and highways. As auto dealers, we are proud to offer this free, simple solution to Louisiana drivers to help preserve our state’s beauty. If we all take steps to address this problem where it starts, we can prevent further trash from appearing on our roadways,” said LADA President and CEO Coulter McMahen.
Louisiana car dealerships can join the “Put the Brakes on Litter” campaign online. KLB will accept new dealerships while supplies last. LADA membership is not required to participate.
Other key findings from the Litter Study that motivated this campaign include:
- Cigarette butts are the most littered micro-sized item on our roadways (24.5%).
- Motorists, garbage trucks, and unsecured loads contribute to over 79% of roadway litter.
- Interstates are the most littered type of roadway, with an average of 10,178 pieces of litter per mile.
- According to a survey, 92% of Louisiana citizens believe that litter is a problem.
The complete litter study and fact sheets are available at KeepLouisianaBeautiful.org.
KLB encourages all motorists to help reduce roadside litter by doing the following:
- Use a car litter bag
- Use a portable ashtray
- Keep your truck bed clean
- Secure your load
- Report littering at 855-LA-Litter
About Keep Louisiana Beautiful
Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) is the state’s leading anti‐litter and community improvement organization focused on achieving a cleaner, greener Louisiana through education, enforcement, public awareness, and community engagement. KLB is affiliated with the national organization, Keep America Beautiful, and is supported by a robust statewide network of Community Affiliates and University Affiliates. Learn more at KeepLouisianaBeautiful.org.