Litter along US roads, waterways dropped 34% since 2020 — but 35 billion pieces of trash remain scattered across country: report

America is cleaning up its act.

Litter along US roads and waterways has dropped 34% since 2020, but 35 billion pieces of trash remain scattered across the country, according to Keep America Beautiful’s 2026 National Litter Study.

“The declines show us what’s possible when communities act with urgency and commitment. But our work is far from done,” Keep America Beautiful CEO Jennifer Lawson said. 

The study found that smokers are still treating the country like their ashtray. 

Cigarette butts remain the single most littered item — even though the amount has dropped 62% since 2020, the study said.

However, litter from tires, tire threads and vehicle scraps has jumped by 36% while cardboard litter has risen by 50% since 2020. 

The study found that 92% of Americans agree that cleaning up the country should be a priority as America’s 250th birthday approaches on July 4.

But don’t tell that to New Yorkers.

“There’s no way to clean ourselves out of the litter issue,” said Catie Savage, who founded the NYC-based nonprofit Litter Legion.

“It’s really something that comes down to social and behavioral change … Unfortunately, we just don’t value keeping public spaces clean,” she said of indifferent New Yorkers.

Litter Legion is focused on tidying up the streets of Hell’s Kitchen, as Savage said the group has noticed less litter over the years. 

In 2021, Legion volunteers collected 3,097 pounds of trash. In 2025, they collected 2,266 pounds. The organization hosted 29 clean-up events in each of those years. 

NYC property owners are responsible for clearing trash from the sidewalks, as well as 18 inches into the road, in front of their buildings, according to the Department of Sanitation. 

“It would be great if every property owner maintained their little patch of the city, but unfortunately you have a lot of negligent property owners,” Savage said. 

She encouraged New Yorkers to get out and take matters into their own hands:  “Grab a pair of gloves and a plastic bag and just go out and pick up trash.”