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Measurability and accountability are hallmarks of Keep American Beautiful, Inc. (KAB). Therefore, they become the hallmarks of the KAB affiliates as well – Keep Atlanta Beautiful, Inc., is a KAB Affiliate. KAB has developed a new methodology for measuring litter, designed to make litter-prevention work easier and reported results more credible. The results of the Litter Index are intended to help quickly and reliably assess the litter situation in our city and to achieve long-term, sustainable results with litter abatement programs. Each KAB affiliate is required to perform the Litter Index annually and report the results to KAB to remain an affiliate “in good standing.” Keep Atlanta Beautiful, Inc. recently completed the
2010 Litter Index for the City of Atlanta and each of its City Council Districts.
The results of the Litter Index are intended to help quickly and reliably assess the litter situation in our city and to assist us in achieving long-term, sustainable results with litter abatement programs. Because of the changes noted above, this year’s data are not comparable with last year’s data; all but three of the Districts had changes. We have showed the comparisons on the Litter Index: Comparisons where we also show the changed areas and new areas by District.
During the month of January, 2010, two teams (North Team and South Team) visually assessed the entire city. The areas assessed were determined using a multi-level process. Sub-areas were selected in each City Council District providing a fair representation of land use within the area, e.g., residential commercial, educational, recreational, industrial, and agricultural. Note that we must survey areas that meet KAB criteria; we cannot survey an area just because it is known to be littered. Teams of trained volunteers scored the sub-areas using a four-point scoring system to estimate the presence of litter in the area being scored. The teams went out on two days, for a total of ten hours, and traveled a total of 132 miles through the various sub-areas rating the amount of litter observed, to give each a score, as follows:
- 1 represents “No Litter”
- 2 represents “Slightly Littered”
- 3 represents “Littered”
- 4 represents “Extremely Littered”
These scores are the building blocks upon which the Litter Index process is based. The data collected on the 2010 scoring sheets was averaged to obtain scores for each City Council District and an overall score for the city of Atlanta. Each year, this process is duplicated using the same routes and scoring system to determine our successes or failures, by district, as we use the data gathered to determine the areas of most need. The scores will be reported to Keep America Beautiful and Keep Georgia Beautiful for use in compiling overall litter statistics.
Major Findings: There can be no major findings for 2010 because changes in survey areas were made in 9 of the 12 Districts.
* Year of new baseline date
The Litter Index Scale is 1= No litter, and 4=Extremely Littered.
Although the score indicates the city is less littered in 2010 than it was in 2009, we know this may not be the case. We made 13 changes in the survey areas, causing the City Wide Averages to be skewed. Based on these facts, we suggest that for this year, you concentrate on the score your district received this year, (particularly concentrating on the addresses in your district with highest scores) but not necessarily how it compares to last year if your district had a change in survey areas. Those changes are noted on Comparisons Schedule; all but Districts 4, 8, and 9 had changes.
Keep Atlanta Beautiful continues to encourage the residents of Atlanta’s neighborhoods to get out and clean up their streets and vacant lots. We offer free supplies to any group wanting to do cleanups, including a $50 gift card to Home Depot to purchase graffiti removal supplies and spray paint for painting over graffiti. We will roll out our Adopt a Spot program soon which will further encourage groups and individuals to select the area they want to maintain.
City Council members are encouraged to disseminate these findings to their NPUs and neighborhood leaders to help them identify areas that need cleanups. Based on the large numbers of trash bags, gloves, and recycle bags we have given out since this survey was done, we believe much of the litter and other debris has been picked up! |
