FDOT Emergency Travel Alert: For information on the current situation, please visit the following
page - 
What Is Litter?
Litter is waste that has not been disposed of properly. It is unsightly and reduces the appeal of the community. It can pose environmental, health and safety concerns. Sharp objects like broken glass and metals can cause injury to pets and children. Decaying food and pet droppings can spread disease, putting both humans and animals at risk.
What You Can Do!
- Take responsibility for your own trash. Set an example for others, especially children, by not littering
- Always have a litter bag available in your car
- Don’t throw anything out of your car window
- Get involved in community cleanups
- "Adopt" a highway
- Watch our PSA
How Long Does Litter Take To Decompose?
- Napkin/paper towel: two to four weeks
- Glass bottle: one million years
- Paper bag: one month
- Plastic bag: 10 to 20 years
- Plastic bottle: over 500 years
- Soda can: 50 to 100 years
- Straw: 200 years
- Styrofoam: centuries to more than a million years
To learn more information and resources,
please use our resources below:
Thank you to our partners!
© 1996-2024 Florida Department of Transportation