The 2014 Midwest American State Litter Scorecard

Steve Spacek[The American State Litter Scorecard]

Midwest Public Affairs ConferenceIndiana-Purdue University

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Saturday March 29, 2014COPYRIGHT 2014 S. Spacek Public Service Consulting. NOT FOR COMMERCIAL USE

INTRODUCTION 

Illegal littering and dumping, found frequently on or near transportation paths, creates danger to public safety and health. 800+ Americans DIE EACH YEAR in vehicle collisions with un-removed roadway debris. Over 200 of those total deaths occur inside the nine-state Midwest Pac region alone. Michigan had the most of these deaths (32) in FY 2011, but Wisconsin and Kentucky tie for being the “highest chance” Midwest Pac states “TO DIE” die from these crashes, same year. Since 2008, The American State Litter Scorecard approximates each states overall public spaces and environmental quality through tried-and-true, hard-to-obtain measures, resulting in a total jurisdictional score. Policy makers, public administrators and citizens are ever more involved in effectuating “green” outcomes--satisfactory public spaces waste removals are mandated in all 9 Midwest Pac and the other 41 states.

SYNOPSIS OF RESULTS 

For 2014, Iowa has been deemed the overall top BEST state in the Midwest Pac Region, with Missouri a newcomer. They are now THE two foremost, tidiest

governments in America’s heartland.  

Indiana led the bottom—the ultimate WORST, and dirtiest—and a repeat offender! in the Midwest Pac,

followed by (also) repeat-offending Kentucky (#1 national WORST in 2011 Scorecard).

Michigan is heartland America’s new anti-ecological maverick, overtaking Illinois’ 2011-2013 bragging rights, to now be the Midwest’s greatest inhabited,

public surface pollution regime! 

Condition Status Map, 9-State Midwest Pac (2014)

BEST: IA, MO; ABOVE AVERAGE: MN (in Green)AVERAGE: WI (in White)

BELOW AVERAGE: IL, OH (in Yellow); WORST: IN, KY, MI (in Red)

#1 Midwest Pac BEST: Gov. Terry Branstad, Iowa #1 Midwest Pac WORST: Gov.Mike Pence, Indiana

Government Improvement Recommendations for 9-state Midwest PAC Region-Page One

--Adopt Litter-reducing, State-Specific, Anti-Litter Slogans for

INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MICHIGAN, OHIO, WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA.

--More Public SPACES Waste Receptacles: Detroit, Chicago, Indy, Gary, St. Louis, Louisville, Dayton.

--Crack down on severe urban young male gang littering in

Chicago, Detroit, other HIGh-URBAN jurisdictions.

--Implement litter reporting hotlines in Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky,

Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin.

--Publish litter laws and fines inside licensed driver handbooks issued in

Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan.

Government Improvement Recommendations for 9-state Midwest PAC Region-Page Two

--Vastly improve state roadway maintenance routines: InDOT; KY Trans. Cabinet; MDOT; ODOT.

--Adopt Over-sighted Cleanliness, Appearance Standards for ALL STATES

public property litter/dumping pickups

--Compel Container Deposits, Comprehensive Recycling rules

in Midwest PAC states lacking these.

--Reduce vehicle-debris accident deaths in Kentucky, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, Missouri.

--Reduce State Employee Corruption “Risks” in Michigan and Ohio.

--Six States Prime Candidate for Comprehensive Litter Study: INDIANA, MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS,

WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI.

Illegal Littering/DumpingBreeds Diseases; KILLS

Humans, Pets, Landscapes!!Copyright 2014, S. Spacek Public Service Consulting. NOT FOR COMMERCIAL USE.

Check Out!! the Am. State Litter Scorecard MONTHLY WEBSITE:litterscorecard.bellstrike.com