Effects on People
Litter is more than just an unsightly nuisance. Auto parts and computer equipment leach chemicals into our drinking water - not to mention that they're absorbed by the fish we eat!
Cigarette butts take about 5 years to break down, all the while emitting harmful 
chemicals into our fresh water and ocean waterways.
Beach-goers can be injured by broken glass, discarded metal and sharp plastic. Waste can also carry disease.
The degradation of beaches and parks can result in lost revenue for the tourism industry, lack of civic pride and the perpetuation of community wide littering.
Discarded or lost fishing gear can continue ensnaring fish, birds and marine mammals for many years. This phenomenon, referred to as "ghost fishing", put all animals at risk and can cost the fishing industry considerable income.
