Businesses Don't Litter, People Litter--Legislative Response in Oakland, CA

The City of Oakland is considering legislation to add a "litter tax" to businesses whose products (and customers) generate litter. While I understand the frustration with such businesses as much as anyone, I think this is misfocused. The article below says they would plan to focus clean-ups around schools with the money generated. Instead, I think anti-litter programs need to be focused on school-age children regardless. As they do in Japan, get rid of the custodians, and make the children responsible for cleaning the schools. The schools might not be as clean, but the children will learn what happens when they throw something on the ground (someone has to pick it up).

"Businesses targeted in anti-litter campaign": In an effort to curb litter on sidewalks and streets, Vice Mayor Jane Brunner is introducing legislation that would require certain kinds of businesses to pay an extra fee for being part of the problem. According to Brunner's proposal, "It is difficult, if not impossible, to trace individual pieces of litter to individual businesses, but it is possible to trace the litter to business or industry types." The businesses that will be targeted are liquor stores, fast food eateries and gas station convenience stores.

"These businesses make most of their money selling soda, snacks and candy in disposable packaging," stated Brunner in a press release. "These businesses create litter; therefore we want them to step up to pick up the tab for cleaning up." Brunner said the fee is based on the cost of cleaning up litter caused by the stores, and is not punitive. The annual fee, which will be based on the size of the store and its gross receipts, will amount to about $230 for a small business and nearly $2,500 for large businesses.

It is estimated that it will raise about $240,000, which will be used for additional cleanup staff throughout the city. The focus would be on schools, with staff working 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays to collect trash. Pamela Drake, president of the Lakeshore Business Improvement District, had mixed feelings about the proposal. "Our fast-food outlets are very responsible," Drake said. "But when people take it away from the store, it becomes a big problem." According to Brunner, that's the reason why she wants to go beyond requiring businesses to clean up around their shop. "Some have it in their permit as a requirement to clean around the block, others say they will do it but then stop in a few months," Brunner said. She said the big problem isn't trash in front of the establishments, but up and down the nearby streets. "On Broadway, we learned that the litter problem was directly related to students eating at these establishments," stated Brunner. "The routes between schools and fast-food establishments and convenience stores saw the highest concentration of litter, so we knew that we could make a big impact by focusing on those locations."

700 Block of H Street NE, Washington, DC. Photo by Elise Bernard.

Another litter generator seems to be bus stop-transit patrons (not me though). The southeast and southwest facades on the 700 block of 8th are relatively blank and don't provide eyes on the street, to help reduce litter and loitering.

I wonder if by adding an entrance to the Sports Zone on the 8th Street elevation of the H Street Connection, if that would help add some activity and order to that side of the street? (Photo to come.)