Littering: Not Cool

Podcast Summary

• Capital One Venture X Card benefits and Kroger's customer satisfaction guarantee: The Capital One Venture X Card provides unlimited 2X miles on all purchases and premium travel perks, while Kroger ensures customer satisfaction with their brand products and a money-back guarantee

  The Capital One Venture X Card offers unlimited 2X miles on all purchases, premium travel benefits like airport lounge access and annual travel credit, while Kroger brand products provide proven quality at affordable prices, guaranteed for customer satisfaction. Additionally, Josh shared his recent voice acting experiences for the Lethal Lit Season 2 premiere and Dr. Six Reese, a new blue comedy show by Joe Randazzo. While Josh had a great time with these projects, he expressed his preference for not actively pursuing more voice acting opportunities.

• Discussing Dr. Sexreas, Lethal Lit, voice acting, and littering: Witnessing littering led to a reflection on letting go of anger and the origin of the word 'litter' from Old French and Middle English.

  The discussion revolved around various topics including Dr. Sexreas and Lethal Lit, voice acting experiences, and littering. A funny anecdote was shared about witnessing an adult littering, leading to a reflection on letting go of anger and the origin of the word "litter." From the conversation, it was revealed that Dr. Sexreas and Lethal Lit have recently been released, and the guest had a small role in Squidbillies that never aired. The group reminisced about their experiences and shared some humor regarding the situation. The conversation then shifted to littering, with the guest sharing a recent experience of witnessing an adult throwing trash out of a car window. This led to a discussion about dealing with anger and the origin of the word "litter," which comes from Old French and Middle English and originally meant a portable bed. Throughout the conversation, the group also acknowledged the help of Dave Ruse and expressed their enjoyment of the episode's unique blend of topics.

• From farming to littering: Post-WWII culture shift led to single-use items and increase in littering, contrasting historical use of reusable containers

  The term "litter" originated from the farming practice of scattering hay or food for animals. The word's meaning evolved over time to include the act of carelessly disposing trash in public places. This practice was less common in the United States before the 1950s and 1960s due to a culture of reusing items, but post-World War II, the rise of disposable packaging and the convenience it offered led to a shift towards single-use items and an increase in littering. The discussion also highlighted the historical use of reusable containers for various goods, such as milk bottles and potato chip deliveries, which contrasts with the current reliance on single-use plastic bottles and disposable packaging.

• The Shift from Reusing to Throwing Away: From the 1950s to present, society has moved from reusing items to disposing of them, encouraged by companies and a lack of accessible trash cans. This shift, while convenient, has negative environmental consequences.

  The issue of litter and disposable packaging is a relatively new phenomenon, starting around the 1950s. At that time, people did not have the same attitude towards littering as they do now. There were no trash cans everywhere, and people did not have the same encouragement to throw things away. However, as disposable packaging became more prevalent, companies began encouraging people to throw things away rather than reusing them. This shift was met with resistance from some communities, such as Vermont, which implemented bottle bills to ban throwaway bottles. The development of teaching people to throw things away rather than reusing them shows how unnatural this behavior is. Even though concerns about the environment were not a major factor at the time, some people still recognized the ugliness of litter. Today, with the rise of social media platforms like Zigazoo, which prioritize data safety for kids, we can find new ways to engage with technology in a responsible and safe manner.

• Corporations and Individual Responsibility for the Environment: Corporations play a role in producing sustainable products, but individuals must also take responsibility for reducing waste. The balance between personal actions and corporate responsibility is crucial for environmental progress.

  Individuals have a responsibility to take care of the environment, but corporations also hold accountability for producing sustainable products. The discussion touched upon the creation of Keep America Beautiful, a campaign initiated by large beverage companies to encourage individuals to not litter. While the campaign had a positive impact on promoting individual responsibility, it also served as a way for these companies to continue producing disposable packaging, shifting the focus away from the root cause of the issue. This example highlights the importance of both personal actions and corporate responsibility in addressing environmental concerns. Additionally, the sponsor messages in the text emphasized the importance of making your money work for you through automated investing and savings apps like Betterment, and taking advantage of limited-time deals on tech products from Dell.

• Keep America Beautiful's Complex History: Despite criticisms for corporate funding and early greenwashing attempts, Keep America Beautiful remains the largest anti-littering organization, reducing littering and teaching people not to litter.

  Keep America Beautiful, an organization known for its anti-littering campaigns, has a complex history. While it has effectively reduced littering and taught people not to litter, it has also been criticized for its corporate funding and early greenwashing attempts. In the 1970s, the organization publicly opposed a bottle bill in California, leading to the withdrawal of support from environmental groups. The organization's first mascot, Iron Eyes Cody, was a Sicilian American actor, and the use of a Native American image in the "Crying Indian" PSA was problematic and co-opted. Despite these criticisms, Keep America Beautiful remains the largest anti-littering organization in the world.

• Impactful 1971 PSA featuring 'Crying Indian' raised awareness against littering: The 'Crying Indian' PSA effectively raised awareness about littering and led to personal responsibility and litter laws, but fines for littering may not be a strong enough deterrent for all.

  The "Crying Indian" PSA from 1971, which depicted a Native American man discovering a littered landscape and crying, was an effective campaign in raising awareness about littering. The ad, produced by the Ad Council and Keep America Beautiful, had a significant impact and was played frequently, leading to the need for replacement reels. The campaign put personal responsibility for not littering on individuals and also led to the creation of litter laws with severe penalties for dumping. However, despite these measures, littering remains a problem, and fines for littering are not always enough to deter people or evenly applied. The issue of littering is still prevalent, and the fine for littering may not be a strong enough deterrent for some individuals. The campaign's impact can still be seen today, with the iconic image of the "Crying Indian" and the "Don't litter, Pick up Litter" and "Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires" slogans. The campaign's success also led to the creation of Woodsy the Owl, a symbol of environmental awareness.

• Cigarette butts are the most common form of litter on American roadways: Despite a decrease during the pandemic, cigarette butts remain the leading form of litter on American roadways, accounting for over 38% of all tobacco-related litter and approximately 67,000 pieces per mile.

  Cigarette butts are the most commonly littered item on American roadways, making up over 38% of all tobacco-related litter and approximately 67,000 pieces per mile. In 2009, there were 51.2 billion pieces of litter along American roadways, with cigarette butts accounting for 18 billion. However, a study conducted in 2020 during the pandemic showed a decrease of 54%, with cigarette butts dropping to 5.7 billion. While the decrease could be attributed to fewer people smoking or driving, the study's results were likely skewed due to the unusual circumstances. Regardless, cigarette butts remain a significant litter problem, and efforts to reduce their disposal should continue. Other significant sources of litter include paper and plastic, particularly in the form of instant litter like free newspapers and flyers.

• Minimizing Litter: Importance of Packing Out All Trash: Minimizing litter by packing out all trash, including food waste, helps reduce negative impacts on wildlife and the environment. Approx. 1 million animals in the US die yearly from litter.

  Plastic is a major contributor to litter, making up nearly 19% of the waste. This includes not just plastic bottles but also smaller items like plastic film and wrappers. Contrary to popular belief, food waste like apple cores and banana peels do not decompose quickly and can have negative impacts on wildlife. Instead of throwing them away, it's important to pack out all trash to minimize litter and its harmful effects on the environment. Approximately one million animals in the US alone die each year from litter, with many aquatic animals suffering from entrapment in bottles and cans. So next time you're out for a walk or hike, remember to pack out all of your trash, including food waste, to do your part in reducing litter and protecting wildlife.

• Exploring the Digital World Safely and Creatively with Zigazoo and Renting on Airbnb: Zigazoo ensures data safety for kids while they share content, Airbnb offers opportunities for homeowners to earn income, and Canva presentations create visually engaging documents. However, some people continue to litter despite accessible garbage cans.

  There are safe and creative alternatives for kids to explore the digital world through platforms like Zigazoo, which prioritizes data safety and offers a space for kids to share their own content without the risk of inappropriate comments or messaging. Another takeaway is that homeowners can make extra money by renting out their homes or extra spaces on Airbnb during events or when they're away. Lastly, tools like Canva presentations offer a visually engaging way to create work documents and impress audiences. Additionally, America's littering problem persists, with some people intentionally disposing of waste in public places despite the availability of garbage cans.

• Social norms impact littering behavior: Observing others' behavior can influence our decision to litter or keep our environment clean

  The presence of litter can influence individuals to litter as well, creating a cycle of littering. However, observing someone litter in a clean environment can have the opposite effect and make individuals more responsible and less likely to litter. This phenomenon, known as social norms, can significantly impact our behavior. For instance, if we believe that everyone is littering in a certain area, we may be more likely to do the same. Conversely, if we see that people are being responsible and disposing of their trash properly, we are more likely to follow suit. Ultimately, our actions can influence the actions of those around us, and it's essential to be aware of the impact we have on our environment.

• Littering creates a cycle of more littering: Establishing social norms against littering is crucial, but some studies may be inaccurate. Cigarette butts, a significant litter contributor, are not biodegradable and harmful. Individuals can prevent littering by not littering, picking up trash, and supporting initiatives like bottle deposit laws.

  The presence of litter can encourage more littering, creating a self-defeating cycle. For instance, studies have shown that the more litter you find in a movie theater, the more likely you are to add to it. To prevent this, it's essential to establish and maintain strong social norms against littering. However, the accuracy of some studies, like the one from Keep America Beautiful, can be questionable. For example, when researchers asked people who had been observed littering if they had littered recently, some lied about it. Additionally, cigarette butts, which are a significant contributor to litter, are not biodegradable and contain harmful substances. They can kill fish and contaminate the soil and water. To address this issue, companies have developed compostable cigarette butts, but their adoption has been slow due to cost. To make a difference, individuals can take action by not littering, picking up trash, and supporting initiatives like bottle deposit laws.

• Addressing the root cause of litter: To effectively address litter, we need to focus on reducing the production and use of disposable packaging, as well as addressing unintentional littering from garbage trucks.

  To effectively address the issue of litter, we need to focus not only on individual consumer behavior but also on the source of the problem: disposable packaging. Even unintentional littering, such as debris flying out of garbage trucks, contributes significantly to the issue. Therefore, efforts to reduce litter should include initiatives to limit the production and use of disposable packaging. For instance, the podcast guest shared an experience of accidentally dropping a Christmas tree in the street, which resulted in honking drivers and a near-miss with a car. This anecdote underscores the importance of addressing the root cause of litter, rather than just addressing the symptoms. Additionally, a listener, Samantha, a doctor of physical therapy, provided an insightful explanation about the science behind muscle tension and the differences between cubital tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow. This segment showcased the value of sharing diverse expertise and knowledge. Overall, the podcast emphasized the importance of collective action and understanding to tackle complex issues, from litter to muscle physiology.

• Exploring intriguing trials shapes our understanding of the world: Trials reveal deep reflections on society and leave critical questions unanswered, shaping our comprehension of the past and present

  Trials have the power to provoke deep reflection on our society and its complexities. From the historic Monkey Trial to modern cases like the O.J. Simpson trial, these legal battles continue to shape our understanding of the world around us. A prime example is the unsolved Easy Street Murders case from 1975, which left two women dead and a community in shock. Despite the passage of time, critical questions remain unanswered. By exploring such intriguing trials, we can gain valuable insights into our past and better comprehend the present. Listen to History on Trial and Case File Presents to delve deeper into these fascinating stories.