NYC's Littering Problem: Who's to Blame?
A recent survey by the Sanitation Foundation has unveiled some surprising findings about New York City's persistent litter problem. The results might shock you!
The Biggest Offenders
The survey identifies young men (ages 18-34) from the Bronx and Queens as the most frequent litterers. While many New Yorkers express pride in their city, these individuals admit to regularly discarding trash on the streets, citing reasons such as a lack of nearby bins or time constraints.
Interestingly, these same litterers often view others who litter as lazy, believing they are the ones tarnishing the city's image.
The Numbers Don't Lie
The data reveals a significant disconnect: about 80% of New Yorkers acknowledge a trash problem, yet nearly 40% admit to littering occasionally. A mere 29% claim to have never littered.
Conversely, women aged 45 and older were least likely to admit to littering.
Borough Breakdown
In terms of 311 complaints, Brooklyn leads with over 30,000 reports since January 2024, followed by Queens (20,900), Manhattan (17,000), the Bronx (13,200), and Staten Island (6,700).
A Resident's Perspective
Anthony, an 80-year-old Queens resident, shares his frustration, spending two to four hours a week cleaning up litter near his home. He expresses disappointment at the lack of action to address the problem.
The "Don't Do NYC Dirty" Campaign
The Sanitation Foundation is launching the Don't Do NYC Dirty campaign to encourage New Yorkers to take responsibility for their trash. The campaign aims to leverage New Yorkers' pride in their city to inspire cleaner habits.
<img src="https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/carlos-amaya-father-moving-long-104069687.jpg?w=1024" alt="Carlos Amaya">
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