In our series EcoHomeLife Explains we try to shed some light on terms and concepts in relation to sustainability. This edition puts the spotlight on littering and why it’s so bad for our environment.
Whether you live rural or urban, whenever you’re out and about litter on the ground is a common sight in the UK.
It’s one of those things I just can’t stand. And it’s not just because it screams of disrespect for nature and other people. Not even because it’s an eyesore to see rubbish littering our beautiful countryside.
Those plastic bottles, cigarette butts, sweet wrappers and drinks cans have a profound impact on our environment, and that’s why I hate to see them littered about.
But why is littering bad for the environment? Let’s find out…
1. Littered Rubbish Contributes To Pollution
When we throw a plastic bottle or a cigarette butt on the ground, it doesn’t just stay there until someone picks it up during a litter pick. As these items are exposed to the elements, they start to degrade and leak harmful and often toxic chemicals into our environment.
Let’s take discarded cigarette filters, which are the most littered item in the world. Several studies have shown that the chemicals leaked from cigarette ends are lethal for aquatic and terrestrial life. (Webler et Jakubowski, 2022)
And even if the toxins aren’t lethal, they still have harmful effects on wildlife. One study looked at the impact of toxic chemicals leaked from cigarettes on an african frog. The results have shown that even if the embryos of the frogs didn’t die, malformation and stunted growth were observed. (Parker et Rayburn, 2016)
But it’s not just discarded cigarette filters that leak toxic chemicals. Plastic items, such as bottles, packaging, wrappers, etc., also release harmful chemicals as they degrade.
Studies have shown that plastic can leak heavy metals as well as organic substances as it degrades over hundreds of years. These harmful substances have shown to negatively affect barnacles in one study. (Li et al., 2016)
It’s not just aquatic animals either, as marine plants are also affected, with one study showing that chemicals leaked from plastic impacts on growth and the ability to photosynthesis of plants in our waterways. (Gao et al., 2024)
In this way, littering contributes to pollution, including air pollution, soil pollution and water pollution. And the toxic substances that are leaked into our environment cause a lot of harm to our wildlife.
This has led to some researches calling to classify plastic as hazardous, which would mean it would have to be disposed of accordingly, rather than in landfill. (Rochman et al., 2013)
2. Microplastics From Plastic Litter
Apart from toxic chemicals, plastic that is littered in the environment will also release microplastics, as it degrades over hundreds if not thousands of years.
These are tiny pieces of plastic that can get everywhere: the soil, the plants, the water, the animals and us humans. Aquatic ecosystems are especially vulnerable. (Rani, 2021)
Once these microscopic plastic particles are in the environment, they can stay there for hundreds of years and cause great harm.
Studies have found that the presence of microplastics in soil can alter its physical structure and biochemistry. This can harm the soil’s microbiome, leading to biodiversity loss of vital microorganisms. (Larinfela et al., 2024)
But it’s not just the soil that is impacted. The plants that grow in the soil are equally harmed by exposure to microplastics.
The plastic particles are absorbed into the roots and are able to reach the shoots, basically entering the plant. This can impact on the plant’s ability to cycle nutrients, which can cause issues. (Zhou et al., 2021)
And of course, animals also take up microplastics, either through the food they eat, the water they drink or through inhalation.
Research has found these tiny plastic particles in any animal you can imagine, including fish, crustaceans, mammals and birds. (Rex M et al., 2024; Wang et al., 2024; Hernandez-Gonzales et al., 2018; Provencher et al., 2020)
Of course, this also means that humans have them in their bodies. Pretty bad, huh? How else is littering bad for the environment? Read on to find out…
In the past few years, many studies have been undertaken to understand the impact microplastics have on wildlife. It was found that they affect the development, reproduction, metabolism and cellular responses. (Debnath et al., 2024)
While littering isn’t the only way these microplastics get into our environment, it plays a huge part. Just think of all the plastic bottles, sweet wrappers, crisp packets, cigarette butts, etc. that litter our streets, parks and rural areas.
3. Littering Injures And Kills Wildlife
But it’s not just the microplastics that can harm wildlife: the discarded litter itself can too. When animals encounter litter, such as drinks cans or plastic bottles, they will investigate them.
In some cases they will use them as nests or a place for their young to develop into adults safely. But many also find their death in our litter.
A study investigating rubbish left behind in a woodland found over 10,000 dead animals in 528 different containers, such as glass bottles. The list of dead animals included mammals, insects and invertebrates. (Kolenda et al., 2022)
So our litter can become a death trap for many different animals.
In our oceans and other waterways, litter can also become a threat to life for many marine animals. They can become entangled, which prevents them from moving, leading to many animals to drown as they can’t move to the surface to breath. (Kühn et al., 2015)
Entanglement isn’t just an issue in the water, it can also happen on land. Things like plastic can holders or elastic bands can entangle animals and cause deep wounds and death.
Many animals also ingest the litter they find in the search of their next meal. This can lead to choking or obstruction of airways and the stomach, which can lead to death.
And even if they manage to eat it ok, the rubbish fills them up without giving them the nutrients they need. This can lead to malnourishment and death.
Broken glass and other sharp edges, for example from drinks cans, can lead to injuries that could be fatal.
And all this because some people can’t be bothered to dispose of their litter in a bin or take it with them to bin it at home.
We Need Fundamental Change In Behaviour
The amounts of litter pieces I see regularly on my morning runs is staggering. It’s clear that there are people who get food and drinks, which they consume in their car and then just throw their rubbish out of the window when they are finished.
And the fact that it’s illegal to litter in the UK doesn’t seem to deter them. Which is of course, because the laws aren’t enforced, as it’s difficult and would need a lot of resources.
It pains me to see all this rubbish in our environment, because I know why littering is bad for the environment. But what can we do?
We can remove these pieces of litter from the environment by organising regular litter picks, but that won’t solve the issue. To get to the root of the problem, we need a fundamental change in behaviour.
People have to stop littering. But this will only happen if we educate people on the impact of littering on our environment. (Fenitra et al., 2022)
I hope that this short article will do its bit to show people why it’s so important to keep our environment litter-free. Do your bit too and tell your friends and family why they too shouldn’t litter. Together we can make a difference.
