Counting 35 Billion Pieces of Litter: Digging into the 2026 National Litter Study
Behind the stats: a revealing look at what’s working—and where urgent action is still needed
In this special episode of Do Beautiful Things, the podcast takes a deeper look at the findings of the 2026 National Litter Study—a major benchmark in tracking litter trends across America. Host Jennifer Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful welcomes David Scott, PhD, SVP of Data and Research and the lead researcher behind this landmark effort.
Together, they explore what it really means that litter is down by 34% nationwide since 2020—a headline-worthy statistic that reflects meaningful progress while underscoring how much work still lies ahead. David offers an inside look at what it takes to count 35 billion pieces of litter across thousands of miles of roadways, waterways, and, for the first time, coastal areas—from rigorous field research conducted by trained environmental consultants to the careful methods used to ensure reliable, unbiased data.
The conversation also highlights how litter affects everything from local wildlife to community economics—and how the challenge is evolving, with updated per-capita figures and fresh insight into the role each of us can play in creating cleaner communities.
Listen to the full episode for practical takeaways, compelling data, and inspiration to join the movement.
Show Notes:
- 00:00 Research partnerships on litter studies
- 05:50 Conducting thorough litter research
- 09:55 Discussing per capita litter issue
- 11:39 Studying litter and water pollution
- 15:05 Impact of coastal pollution
About Keep America Beautiful®:
Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s leading community improvement nonprofit organization, inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful strives to end littering, improve recycling, and beautify America’s communities. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Donate and take action at kab.org.