M Focus on: Waste & Recycling
Beautifying cities by removing litter Colorado Springs, Colo., is known for its scenic beauty, and its mayor has strove to make sure the city matches that beauty by removing litter. (Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock.com)
By BETH ANNE BRINK-COX | The Municipal
Those of a certain age might remember a public service announcement from 1971. The Clio Awards-winning spot was named one of the top 100 advertising campaigns of the 20th century. This unforgettable spot, most commonly referred to as the “Crying Indian” spot, featured a Native American actor, Chief Iron Eyes Cody, paddling a canoe on tranquil waters. Then floating trash appeared. When he pulled the canoe up to a beach, it too was littered. Eventually, as he stood looking over the cars zooming by, a bag of trash was thrown out a passenger window, bursting open at Chief Cody’s feet. A tear fell down his cheek as a voiceover stated, “People started pollution. People can stop it.”
Mayor John Suthers of Colorado Springs, Colo., has devoted his two terms to making the beauty of the city match the beauty of the surroundings. (Photo provided by Colorado Springs, Colo.) 22 THE MUNICIPAL | AUGUST 2022
During the height of that campaign, Keep America Beautiful reported receiving more than 2,000 letters a month from people wanting to join their local team, and by the end of that ad campaign, litter had been reduced by as much as 88% in 300 communities. Unfortunately, littering continues to be an ongoing problem. The average U.S. resident produces about 4.5 pounds of garbage a day — the global average is 1.6 pounds a day.
Apart from the obvious ugliness, there are other issues: Littering can encourage the spread of pests and diseases, attract wildlife and, if the trash collects water, it may also harbor mosquitoes. So what is the solution and how is it implemented? A lot of cities are trying different methods to combat this health hazard. Colorado Springs, Colo., has been under the leadership of a passionately involved mayor since 2015. Jacob Anderson, community
