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26 <br /> °►-fug ... , ,1 . � y,`. •�1 ",�_r„J• ; nA•. .• <br /> ` 4 <br /> ' a EnvironmentalQualityIndicator : <br /> Envyro <br /> n04 � ` _ _y �� � f •.7 : , -' ' a I .K. •'. . p <br /> h indicator Littering affects the visual quality of the environment and is an indicator <br /> Why a of the willingness of citizens to change their behavior to improve that <br /> was selected environment . Other solid waste issues that are related to littering are <br /> illegal dumps , junked and abandoned motor vehicles , and uncovered <br /> trucks . The Photometric Index was developed for Keep America Beautiful , <br /> Inc . in the mid - 7os by the American Public Works Association and is used <br /> throughout the United States as a way to measure the success of educa . <br /> tional programs to change behavior and reduce littering * <br /> w indicator The Photometric Index tracks litter at random sites in several categories : <br /> HO parking lots , loading docks , dumpsters , and vacant <br /> streets , rights- of-ways , p g <br /> was measured lots . The purpose of the Index is to obtain an annual photographic " snap - <br /> shot" of litter in the community on a certain day, and to compare it to <br /> previous years ' findings . <br /> Since Wake County ' s program was initi <br /> The trend ated in 1986 , the Photometric <br /> Index has shown <br /> in Wake County • an 89 % decrease in litter on rights - of-ways <br /> • a 92 % decrease In litter on streets <br /> • an 88 % decrease in litter in parking lots <br /> • a 76 % decrease in litter around loading docks and dumpsters . <br /> i <br /> In Wake County, cigarette butt litter is also tracked . In 1997, of all the <br /> locations with any litter, 65 % contained cigarette butts as part of that litter. <br /> Ongoing education is needed to increase citizen awareness that cigarette <br /> butts are litter, too . <br /> The Wake County <br /> Wake County is leading a statewide effort to introduce legislation in the <br /> 1999 session of the General Assembly to make the enforcement of litter a i <br /> nts and civic g <br /> Government re5 on5e <br /> p laws more effective . Ongoing educational programs to stu e <br /> groups raise citizen awareness of their personal responsibility to help <br /> change littering behavior. <br /> Nationally, Keep America Beautiful is collecting data on the connection <br /> between littering , illegal al dumping , graffiti , junked vehicles and crime . <br /> betty <br /> i <br /> This connection is commonly referred to as the " broken window theory. " <br /> i <br /> 9 <br />