ROADSIDE LITTER: ITS CLEAN-UP, COST AND CURE

SINCE THE ROADSIDE-LITTER PROBLEM IS LIKELY TO BE WITH US FOR SOME TIME, THE FIRST STEP IN ITS SOLUTION APPEARS TO BE DECREASED COST THROUGH MECHANIZATION--A MOVE WHICH HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN OTHER FIELDS SUCH AS GRADING, ROADSIDE SEEDING AND MULCHING. CALIFORNIA HAS DEVELOPED A ROADSIDE "VACUUM CLEANER" BASED ON THE GOOD ROADS LEAF COLLECTOR, WITH MODIFICATIONS TO PERMIT BOTTLES AND CANS TO DROP DIRECTLY INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE UNIT INSTEAD OF PASSING THROUGH THE FAN WHICH, OF COURSE, WOULD BE DAMAGED BY THEM. IT SHOULD BE A RELATIVELY SIMPLE TASK TO DEVELOP A MACHINE WHICH WOULD GATHER UP ALL THE LITTER--PAPERS, BOXES, CANS, BOTTLES, ETC.--QUICKLY AND ECONOMICALLY, AND IT WOULD SEEM DESIRABLE TO PLACE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOME OF THE MANUFACTURERS OF ROAD-MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT. THE LONG- RANGE OBJECTIVE IS, OF COURSE, TO ELIMINATE OR MINIMIZE THE PROBLEM. THIS CAN BE TACKLED IN THREE WAYS: (1) LEGISLATION; (2) PUBLIC EDUCATION; AND (3) PROVISION OF SUFFICIENT TRASH RECEPTACLES OR DISPOSAL AREAS.

• Record URL:
  https://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/hrbroadsidedevcomrpts/1953/1953-008.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • No 286, pp 39-41. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Wright, J L
• Publication Date: 1953

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Board Roadside Development Committee Reports
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Highways; Litter
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00205035
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Nov 22 2000 12:00AM