Littering is a major environmental threat that continues to grow in urgency across the globe. As the primary source of litter, humans have a responsibility to understand its impact and take meaningful action.

When trash is discarded along roads, in parks, or on school grounds, it doesn’t just stay there—it’s often carried by wind and rain into nearby rivers, lakes, and oceans, eventually polluting soil, waterways, and aquatic habitats. Based on recent data, 7 billion tons of debris enter the world’s oceans annually and much of it is long-lasting plastic. This plastic waste poses a serious threat as it is often mistaken for food by both land and marine wildlife. Along with learning these critical environmental facts, students in this program explore how litter from their school can make its way into nearby waterways, impacting ecosystems and wildlife.