Neighbor News
Earth Day 2024: Deaths UP! from Littering in Virginia, West Virginia
Fatal Waste Littering/Dumping Incidents are UP across Virginia and West Virginia. But... NO Death increases reported in Maryland.
by STEVE SPACEK, Director, American State Litter Scorecard (litterscorecard.com)
On Monday, this 54th anniversary of Earth Day, both VIRGINIA and WEST VIRGINIA have seen a rise in deaths from waste littering incidents. Yet Maryland and most other states across America have seen stability--even a decline! -- in these type of fatalities, asserts Steve Spacek, Director of the American State Litter Scorecard (litterscorecard.com) and a D.C.-based Public Performance Specialist.
Data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s NHTSA Fatality Reporting System shows the Commonwealth and its 'Wild and Wonderful" neighbor to the west had significantly more life-taking encounters with unabated solid waste than in previous years. The data also showed nearby Maryland seeing a stabled rate for the 2021 and 2022 measuring periods; the District of Columbia reporting no fatalities whatsoever from waste littering and dumping, that period.
Find out what's happening in Richmondfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A NHTSA Requests official contacted Spacek by written email, stating that "the data is accurate to the best of out knowledge, as each of the 50 state (lead police agencies) provide us the fatal crash data."
Roughly three (3) Americans are killed each day from vehicular and non-vehicular brushes with un-removed waste and related debris upon roads, sidewalks, trails and parks. "These life-ending incidents with 'unfixed objects' can occur anytime and anywhere, under all types of weather," according to Spacek.
Find out what's happening in Richmondfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
VIRGINIA BEACH made Spacek’s Scorecard “10 Biggest, Cleanest U.S. Cities” list in the previous decade. On the other hand, Baltimore continues to be on the non-profit's "U.S. 15 Biggest, Most Waste Littered Cities" list, for several years running. Where littering and dumping remains quite visible and widespread.
For VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA and the Mid-Atlantic Region as a whole, studies show Cigarette and Vapor Smokers, Construction and Landscaping Workers and Persons Age 16-25 the three groups most inclined to litter or dump solid wastes onto public spaces. “Too many in these groups are just not getting the message. Engaging in littering and dumping does damage our Earth and the lives of 1000s of children and adults,” said Spacek.
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