Naturally Bexar

Service Learning: Litter

Let's Talk Trash

Litter is gross!!!

It looks bad, pollutes the water and hurts animals. But where is it all coming from? Is it coming from the convenience store down the street? Are local workers losing their lunch trash on the way back to their offices? Are local businesses letting industrial debris fly away from their property?

It has been said that one person's trash is another's treasure. In this case the treasure we are collecting is information.

If we know what kinds of litter is being tossed around our school, neighborhood and creek, then we can begin to find out where it is coming from and take steps to stop the problem!

We can make a difference!

How To

Safely collect the trash you find around your schoolyard or in your neighborhood or near the creek.

Wear disposable gloves if you can. If you can't afford them, a plastic bag will have to do.

As you pick up litter remember to be safe. Watch for ants, hornets, bees, wasps and snakes!

Work with a partner so one person can collect litter and the other person can collect data about the types of litter you find.

Share your results with other students. When you have enough data to figure out where most of the litter is coming from, go after the litterbugs with a poster campaign!

Explain, in a nice way, why it's important to have a safe, clean, healthy neighborhood.

Ask local businesses if you can display your posters on their bulletin boards or windows.

Collecting Data

Where is the litter coming from? Try to get the answer by evaluating what kinds of trash you collect. Here are some categories you might use:

Aluminum soda cans

Aluminum beer cans

Building materials

Car parts

Fast food from different restaurants

Foil food trash

Glass bottles

Industrial or packing material

Newspaper

Paper bags

Plastic bottles

Plastic cups

Plastic shopping bags

Snack, chip and gum wrappers

Styrofoam cups

Styrofoam containers

Tires

Very weird items

Email us saladocreek@hotmail.com