#54 Roadside Rubbish and Related Reflections

When we think of ‘taking out the trash’, most of us don’t consider loading it into our car and driving out to illegally dispose of it on an unsuspecting rural or suburban road shoulder. However, despite providing a novel habitat for limited small fauna[1], this is a persistent problem on Australian roads and roadsides, with potentially devastating outcomes in some cases.

Identification and impacts

“Litter”, according to relevant Australian research in 2007[2], commonly includes items such as glass, cans, paper, plastics and other materials, including tyres, ice-cream sticks and cigarette lighters. Occasional observers might also notice items such as furniture, clothing, household appliances, building materials and food waste among the other rubbish discarded on roadsides. Other Australian research identifies the roadside dumping of rubbish as an ‘environmental crime’[3].      

Glowing cigarette butts discarded by the roadside in rural and forested areas can start uncontrolled fires with horrific consequences. Similar effects can be seen from the reflection and magnification of sunlight through discarded bottles. Roadside rubbish can also be a road safety hazard, causing obstructions and damage to vehicles on the roadside and potentially also in traffic lanes. The actual occurrence and impacts of these phenomena in statistical terms are largely unknown.

Countermeasures

Clean-up efforts are undertaken by community groups, councils and road authorities, but these may come with indirect costs to communities, for example, as a contributor to council rates. They also cannot cover a substantial fraction of the Australian road network, or indeed all ‘hot spots’ for illegal dumping. A similar conclusion must also be drawn regarding enforcement, which, while a strong deterrent, can generally only be applied in limited areas and for short periods of time. Clearly, the most effective measure is for road users to practice responsible (and legal) waste disposal. 

As with so many social and environmental problems, prevention is preferable to treating the symptoms. Behaviour change promotion can be notoriously difficult, however, and according to Stokes [1] requires “a mixture of educational, antecedent and consequent strategies… to establish behaviour pattern changes resulting in litter reduction”.

[1] Hoser, R. (2023). Litter, plastic sheets and rubbish. It’s not necessarily an eco-disaster for all species! Australasian Journal of Herpetology 61, 3-4.

[2] Stokes, K. (2007). Litter and other roadside anomalies: an exploration of loss on Australian highways. International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability 3(1), 101-107.

[3] Crofts, P., et al. (2010). Illegal dumping and crime prevention: A case study of Ash Road, Liverpool Council. Public Space: JL & Social Justice 5.