Litter’s Negative Influence on Human Temperament
Walk around your nearest city during the early hours of the morning and you will encounter an army of applied sweepers on the roads cleaning up the mess strewn around by all the partying of the previous night. It’s an emblematic early daybreak setting, particularly the beeping noise! We don’t often give litter a second thought as we assume it will all be tidied up for us.
Yet, there is a subtle yet fundamental influence litter plays on human psychology. Individuals are more liable to believe a neighbourhood is lacking law and order if rubbish is scattered around, and so criminals see rubbish as a potential indication for an opportunity of a break-in, a mugging, or car-theft. The same sign creates some concern in other individuals who are concerned they may be strolling into a more risky neighbourhood and are concerned about possibly being attacked.
Not only that, but also the influence on the visual appeal of an area. Litter lying about can give the visual aspect of a location looking a bit derelict even if it’s just been “abused” by people from the previous night. This can harm the reputation of a place if people are visiting the location for this specific short period of time and only discover it in its disorderly state.
There’s absolutely no purpose to throw litter if there are unfilled litter bins within the neighbourhood. If there are no rubbish bins, or the rubbish bins that are there are overflowing, this is a matter to take up with the local council. Trashing an area has a damaging influence on everyone.