Volunteers and outdoor trash receptacles can make a difference in fighting litte

It's a solution as simple as adding more outdoor trash receptacles that can turn a city around. Unfortunately, some people who live in metropolitan areas figure that litter and trash are just an inevitable part of big city living. But the mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, doesn't accept that notion. He's fighting litter and pledged to put 5,000 more outdoor trash cans on the streets in a major push to clean up the city.

Los Angeles, like most cities, has a trash problem. Some citizens believe it is okay to dump their burger wrappers and soft drinks on the ground. When that happens, litter escalates. Studies show that people, even those who use trash receptacles if they are handy, believe that trash on the ground is a green light for them to do the same.

Unlike many other civic challenges, this problem is an easy fix. For one, make sure there are an adequate number of outdoor trash receptacles available. Apparently, in Los Angeles, there aren't enough.

The mayor had his people check to see how many outdoor trash cans other cities make available to their citizens. The discrepancy was eye-opening.

New York provides 25,000 trash cans for the public to use. Upstate San Francisco, with its smaller population, still has 3,500. The even smaller District of Columbia provides 4,800.

It's smart to place outdoor trash cans near park benche

How many outdoor trash cans are there in Los Angeles, which encompasses nearly 500 square miles? Only 1,000.

Duh? No wonder citizens complain about litter on the streets. There's no place to throw it away!

Los Angeles is a mecca for the film and music industry. Lots of creative people. Well guess what? The population of Greater L.A. is a whopping 18.5 million people.  Those creative people also create a lot of trash.

The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average person generates about 4.43 pounds of trash every day. About half of that ends up in landfills. Where is the rest of it going? On sidewalks, streets, alleyways and abandoned lots.

But Mayor Garcetti is determined not to let this happen any longer. That is why he is going to flood the town with outdoor trash cans. It is estimated that each outdoor garbage can removes two tons of trash off a city street annually. Two tons. Imagine that refuse littering a street instead. For a town built on glamour and looks, that's would be very ugly.

Outdoor trash receptacles with li

The mayor also imposed strict requirements surrounding those garbage cans - they must be clean and not overflowing. There should be no more than five pieces of litter on the ground nearby at any time. The trash receptacles must be free of cracks and damage. And they must have doors that close properly.

"Everyone who lives here, works here and visits here should be able to walk streets free of litter and debris," he said. "When a child dodges abandoned couches on the way to school, imagine the limits that are placed on her aspirations. This initiative is about cleaning up our streets and keeping them clean. The cleanliness of our streets, sidewalks, alleys and public spaces are essential to our quality of life, our economy and our health, and that's why we are making it a top priority."

Index for effectiveness of outdoor trash receptacles and other strategies

It's not just outdoor trash receptacles. The mayor's office has initiated a Clean Streets program that attacks the problem with several strategies.

In addition to adding all those outdoor trash cans, his program also targets Street Cleanliness, Sidewalk Cleanliness, Graffiti, Trees and Landscaping.

The guy is obsessed with litter. Since taking office, his staff has removed 3,000 tons of trash from streets and alleys.

There will be a Clean Street Strike Team that has the mandate to clear 500 tons of trash every month. If citizens do have large bulky items such as couches or appliances, they can call 311 to have them removed and kept out of public areas.

The mayor's office has also created a street and sidewalk "index" to measure the success of the program and to keep the 3,000 sanitation department workers on their toes. Streets and sidewalks will be rated on a scale of 1-3 with a 3 rating meaning the area is unacceptably dirty.

Enforcement of litter laws is also going to be stepped up. Apparently people who were taking out the garbage thought that meant they could just drop it in an alley. Not any more.

"To all the criminals out there who think they can continue to trash our neighborhoods - you are on notice," said Councilman Joe Buscaino. "We are coming after you. We will arrest you and will prosecute you to the maximum extent of the law."

Obviously, it's not just the mayor and sanitation department who can help control litter in such a huge municipality. To be truly effective, local residents need to get involved on a block-by-block level. The city will also work with citizens on both education outreach programs and targeted clean-ups.

When the mayor announced the launch of his Clean Street initiative, he held a press conference in an area where the sanitation department had recently pulled out thirteen tons of trash.

By meeting there, you could tell he was fed up with the trash problem and is determined to sweep the city clean. Studies show, when outdoor trash receptacles are close at hand, people will use them. Mayor Garcetti is now going to make sure those trash cans are within reach.