This resource is to support home and school discussions on the ‘litter cycle’ and help children understand the implications of litter on our planet. Like Spid in his adventure, Spid the Spider Helps Save the Planet it will also help them realise that they can do something.  A poster of the ‘litter cycle’ accompanies the book Spid the Spider Helps Save the Planet. It is designed for display on home and school walls and to inspire discussion on the causes and effects of litter, and planetary pollution.

What is litter and planetary pollution?

Litter is rubbish such as paper, cans, and glass and plastic bottles left lying in open or public places.
If not properly disposed of or collected litter causes planetary pollution, either on land, in rivers and seas, or in the air.

How beautiful or litter-free is the town or countryside near you?

Ask your children to reflect on the town and countryside where they live? If it is beautiful and litter-free, if so, why is this?  If not, why not?

How does the litter problem start and who is responsible?

Today litter is most commonly found as a result of eating out of home or picnicing. Alternatively it is due to overflowing or lack of litter bins or it is thrown from cars. Though some people also maliciously litter or ‘fly-tip’. All are discussed in the book, Spid the Spider Helps Save the Planet. With the establishment of permanent settlements by large numbers of people, pollution became a problem, and it has remained one ever since.

What are the consequences of litter?

Litter visibly impacts our environment, some accumulates in cities, on roadside verges, and in the countryside. Some is placed in bins where it is collected by local authorities. Some litter is then sorted and recycled, some burnt, composted, some goes to ‘landfill’.  All incurs costs. The consequence of landfill waste decomposition is methane (CH4) emission. Waste accounts for 18% of methane emissions. Methane is a short-lived climate pollutant with an atmospheric lifetime of around 12 years. While its lifetime in the atmosphere is much shorter than carbon dioxide (CO2), it is much more efficient at trapping radiation. Per unit of mass, the impact of methane on climate change over 20 years is 86 times greater than CO2; over a 100-year period it is 28 times greater. In short methane is a so-called ‘greenhouse’ gas and a significant contributor to global warming. And in turn climate change; melting of ice flows, rising water levels, floods, drought, and loss of habitats.
Following wind or rain, litter also accumulates in drains and is flushed into waterways. Water pollution is also exacerbated flushing materials such as sanitary protection and cigarette butts down toilets. Sanitary protection and cigarette butts are partly made of plastic fibres which are slow to decompose. Water companies also exacerbate water pollution by discharging raw sewerage into rivers which then makes its way to the sea.  Some litter also falls or blows from trucks and boats into waterways.  Amongst other things water pollution contributes to rising concentration of mineral and organic nutrients (eutrophication). In turn, this promotes proliferation of algae and aquatic plants, reduces dissolved oxygen, and destroys habitats.

What is the threat from litter?

According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), there is a growing threat from marine litter and plastic pollution to all species and ecosystems from source to sea.

Plastics are the largest, most harmful, and most persistent fraction of marine litter, accounting for at least 85 per cent of total marine waste. A UK land analysis by Loughborough University suggests plastics account for 63 per cent of litter, and of this 50 per cent traces to 10 brands.

Ecosystems and wildlife are being destroyed by litter and plastics. The human body is vulnerable on multiple fronts. Plastics are ingested from water sources, through seafood, drinks, and even common salt.  They also penetrate the skin and are inhaled when suspended in the air. Plastics can cause hormonal changes, developmental disorders, reproductive abnormalities, and cancer.

How can littering and planetary pollution be arrested?

This is an opportunity to research or brainstorm ideas, in small class groups, or as a whole class. Encouraging topic research or discussion in small groups allows everyone more speaking or discussion time. Then by combining and listing the ideas as a class, and assessing them in terms of ‘impact’ and ‘ease of doing’ you could then develop and prioritise the ideas.

How do other countries deal with litter challenges?

Experience from some other countries provides some ideas to prevent or limit littering. In countries such as Singapore, it is culturally unacceptable to litter, partly through public education, and also enforcement (fines for littering, and work orders for those caught littering). because fines for littering are high.  Some forty or so countries, including Finland, also operate deposit return schemes on plastic and glass bottles, and cans. In Finland this has operated since 1950.

What can we do individually and as a collective to break the litter cycle?

All starts with individuals taking responsibility for their own litter and behaviour. You can start by joining Spid in supporting World Cleanup Day which takes place on the third Saturday of September (16th September 2023). Beyond, this there is also a need for urgent, global political and Governmental will and action to dramatically reduce unnecessary, avoidable, and problematic waste and damage to the environment. The United Nations do much to champion a sustainable world though more can be done. You can also support Spid’s campaign to ‘Save Our Planet from Litter and Help Save our Species with one-click at change.org.

To help children improve their spelling and comprehension of some of these words try our save the planet word search.

  • Download our free A4 litter cycle poster
  • Download our free A4 litter cycle poster

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