A CHARACTERIZATION OF NOVA SCOTIAN LITTER 2008 Litter Survey Presented by: Nova Scotia Youth Conservation Corps ~ and ~ Nova Scotia Environment Submitted by: Kayla Oakley Jessica MacLeod Keisha Brown Vanessa Higgins Supervised by: Helen Smith TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures ................................................................................................................................. 4 List of Tables .................................................................................................................................. 4 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 5 Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................... 6 Background ..................................................................................................................................... 6 The Issue ..................................................................................................................................... 6 Tourism ................................................................................................................................... 8 Agriculture .............................................................................................................................. 8 Health and Safety .................................................................................................................... 8 Marine ..................................................................................................................................... 8 Litter Abatement in Nova Scotia .................................................................................................... 9 Provincial Initiatives ................................................................................................................... 9 Anti-Litter Legislation .............................................................................................................. 10 Community and Municipal Initiatives ...................................................................................... 11 Industry Initiatives .................................................................................................................... 12 Current Status of Litter in Nova Scotia..................................................................................... 13 Terms ............................................................................................................................................ 14 Accumulated Litter ............................................................................................................... 14 Brand ..................................................................................................................................... 14 Cap ........................................................................................................................................ 14 Composite Item ..................................................................................................................... 14 Deposit/Milk Container Litter............................................................................................... 14 Disposable Cup ..................................................................................................................... 15 Expanded Polystyrene ........................................................................................................... 15 Fresh Litter ............................................................................................................................ 15 Grocery Store Litter .............................................................................................................. 15 Hazardous Material ............................................................................................................... 15 Identifiable ............................................................................................................................ 15 Item ....................................................................................................................................... 16 Litter ...................................................................................................................................... 16 Litter Catch Point .................................................................................................................. 16 Miscellaneous Item ............................................................................................................... 16 Miscellaneous Metal ............................................................................................................. 16 Other ..................................................................................................................................... 16 Quick Service Litter .............................................................................................................. 16 Sealer..................................................................................................................................... 17 Site ........................................................................................................................................ 17 Snack Food Litter .................................................................................................................. 17 Tobacco Litter ....................................................................................................................... 17 Unknown Item ...................................................................................................................... 17 Methodology ................................................................................................................................. 17 Safety Precautions ..................................................................................................................... 18 2 Materials ................................................................................................................................... 19 Safety Equipment .................................................................................................................. 19 Litter Collection .................................................................................................................... 19 Data Collection ..................................................................................................................... 19 Transportation ....................................................................................................................... 20 Site Selection ............................................................................................................................ 20 Site Survey ................................................................................................................................ 21 Classification of Litter .............................................................................................................. 21 Methodological Challenges ...................................................................................................... 22 Brands ................................................................................................................................... 22 Napkins and paper towels ..................................................................................................... 23 Condiment packaging ........................................................................................................... 23 Disposable cup brands .......................................................................................................... 23 Multiple Sources ................................................................................................................... 24 Results ........................................................................................................................................... 24 Total Litter Composition........................................................................................................... 24 Characterization of Litter by Material ...................................................................................... 24 Characterization of Litter by Source ......................................................................................... 26 Characterization of Litter by Brand .......................................................................................... 29 Quick Service Litter Composition ............................................................................................ 30 Quick Service Litter by Material .......................................................................................... 30 Quick Service Litter by Brand .............................................................................................. 31 Snack Food Litter Composition ................................................................................................ 32 Snack Food Litter by Material .............................................................................................. 32 Snack Food Litter by Brand .................................................................................................. 33 Tobacco Litter Composition ....................................................................................................