A Little Litter Adds Up To Big Problems For Wildlife
Despite public education efforts, Tennessee’s litter problem hasn’t improved. And studies are finding litter is more harmful to wildlife than we thought—from releasing toxins when it’s eaten to changing the structure and ecosystems of lake and river beds.
Decades-old problem only getting worse for habitats, wildlife
Litter is not at all a new problem. But, as study after study shows, the problem is far worse than we knew. It is again coming into focus as an issue we must address for wildlife, the great outdoors, and ourselves.
As a state and a country, we have long focused on the visible effects of litter. The eyesores along river banks and road shoulders. The plastic rings from drinks cans around the necks of fish and wildlife.
These issues were at the heart of campaigns that many will know from decades ago, such as the “Tennessee Trash” commercial and the iconic single tear down the cheek of Chief Iron Eyes Cody.
Forty years later, the problem has barely improved—in Tennessee at least.
In fact, a recent study showed that the Tennessee River contains more microplastics per gallon of water than any other river tested in the world. It’s dumping 32 million pieces of it into the Ohio River every second. That is to say nothing of all the non-plastic litter.
During that same time, we’ve learned so much more about the less visible, but more harmful and widespread effects our litter has on our natural resources and wildlife.
More often we’re seeing wildlife with stomachs filled with trash to the point that it can no longer eat actual food.
After decades of litter that sinks in water—glass, cans, and heavier plastics, such as those used for drink bottles— we’re now seeing the structure of our lake and river beds change. They are less able to provide the foundational habitats water ecosystems need.
This negatively impacts the entire food web, and could reduce the number and size of various species, including highly sought after sportfish. There is even evidence of bioaccumulation. That’s when large wildlife contain large amounts of litter because its small prey had consumed small amounts of litter—all the way down the food chain. This is made worse because we also now know plastics absorb toxins that are then released into the wildlife and livestock that eats it.
At the same time, litter costs Tennessee government and businesses an estimated $22.5 million each year. Though there are some positive signs that more awareness about the issue of litter will curb bad behavior, education alone doesn’t seem to be a sufficient fix. Until more real reforms take place, reducing and cleaning up litter must be a personal responsibility each of us takes on.
Especially those of us who love Tennessee wildlife, water, and wild places.
We Want Your Litter Photos!
With the start of summer, Tennessee Wildlife Federation wants your pictures of litter in our great outdoors to raise awareness about Tennessee’s big litter problem.
Whether it’s in the woods, on the lake, along a river, or by the road, send us your snapshots of the cans, bottles and outright trash that harms wildlife and takes away from the beauty of nature.
By submitting this form, you grant Tennessee Wildlife Federation permission to use these images and contact you.
The sad truth of the matter is: most people have no respect for nature and/or their fellow human beings. We have litter laws on the books – or so the road signs indicate – but these apparently go unenforced?? There has to be an effective deterrent to littering for those who choose to be so irresponsible – FINES! If you collect that money and actually create a fund instead of allocating it to other causes, then maybe we can pay more folks to help out with the cause and further fund education efforts. It shouldn’t be left to a handful of us out here to continually try to pick up after them, only to see the same areas trashed out time and again by the same, habitual violators. Any other habitual offenses would would be met with stiff penalties and even jail time…right? The State has to show that it is serious about enforcement if we ever expect these folks to change. Irresponsible people don’t just wake up one day and decide to change minus the threat of consequences – sorry, it just doesn’t happen that way. We the people need help and backup from the State in this battle; it’s one we can’t afford to lose!
I own property on the Holston River and have seen everything from old TV’s, large office desks, bottles, furniture, stoves and over 100 tires that have been washed down the river. The tires are an eyesore and when the water levels recede the river looks like a junkyard for tires. When I first purchased the property some friends and I hauled over 50 tires to the recycle centers and today it looks like we never removed any. I have contacted TWRA and the local offices about the problem but there is no help. We live in such a beautiful state and it is absolutely beyond me why people continue to toss couches, mattresses and bedsprings along the roadside. I know funds for programs across the state are low but I’d like to see fines for littering across the state doubled, look around you, this trash is coming from somewhere and when those people are caught they pay. People should be thankful to live in this wonderful state surrounded by the beauty and good people, it’s a shame that some of the irresponsible people leave their mark by trashing where they live.
AMEN!…Concur on the fines, sir. Where is the enforcement???
I recently started a new job for Kingsport city working as litter pickup on interstate 26. I have quickly come to find out that I can pick up one area today and it will be just as trashy come tomorrow. I can tell you with complete honesty that you have no idea the things people will throw out of there car. The most disgusting things like diapers, used condoms and syringes. I can pick up a small stretch of road and come back an hour later and there is already trash. I have always taken pride in not littering and shamed all that do it in front of me but something has to change. I get paid to pick up trash and nothing would please me more than not having a job to do, because everyone stopped littering.
We live on beautiful Douglas Lake and every spring as the lake fills, literally tons of garbage is deposited on the shore line. We can only assume the majority of this trash comes in from the rivers. We have worked on the annual lake clean up day and have spent countless hours collecting trash which in then taken by boat to a collection spot for disposal. After a full day of trash collection, it’s sad to say we barely scratch the surface of what’s out there. The fishing net on our boat gets used more often to stop and scoop up trash then it does for fish! We have seen everything from diapers to water bottles and even appliances like TVs and hot tubs. No one seems to care about the lake except the people that live there. Our road is another matter. The local detention center rotates the men around the area roads to pick trash. They can come down our road and before they’ve even finished, there’s trash where they’ve already been. What’s wrong with people? We weren’t raised in TN, but it was instilled upon us as kids that you dispose of trash properly, not chuck it out your window. We believe that education must start at an early age and municipalities should have ordinances on the books that prevent people from leaving trash all over their property. Until we see those things, nothing will change.
AMEN!
I live in Eagleville. We moved here a few years ago to ‘escape’ the overgrowth in Murfreesboro. It is absolutely beautiful here but there is widespread illegal dumping. I have seen couches, several televisions and even a toilet as well as, cans and other litter. I have gone out on several occasions and picked up trash along Hill Road, but people just continue to litter. It’s such a shame that we trash our state which I think is one of the most beautiful states in our country! I believe education about this problem begins on a preschool level and should continue as children get older. Maybe then we can do something to change our ongoing litter and pollution problem. I would like to also seek out any volunteer opportunities you have available to join in the fight…
I guess in my youth I wasn’t as conscious of littering as I am now. I won’t leave even a gum wrapper in the woods. It amazes me the trash that grown adults will leave in the woods. I’ve seen grown menn stop there ATV in the woods and have lunch. When they leave, there’s an empty sandwich wrapper , candy bar wrapper, water bottle, etc where they stopped. It’s heartbreaking. These guys were on the same hunting lease I was on. I said something to the head of the club and quickly made enemies. But I shouldn’t have had to say anything! We have to all be aware and not throw trash into our beautiful outdoors. If we would all stop throwing trash in the back of our pickup trucks, and stop leaving loose trash in our boats, that is just two things that play a major part in how trash ends up on our roadsides and in our waterways. A simple solution right there!