Investigation of Environmental Pollution in Residential Areas From Littered Wastes

The problem of waste littering in urban areas is a widespread issue in most cities and represents a significant challenge in waste management. Hence, this study aimed to assess the level of environmental pollution in urban areas in terms of litter density. The quantity of littered wastes (LWs) was examined across six residential areas, with observations and waste counting conducted over a two-month period on both working days and weekends. The LWs were categorized into four groups, and their on-site density was calculated. The results indicated that the average waste density in the locations studied was 5.08 number/m2. The lowest recorded LW number was 19.49 number/100 m, while the highest was 30.49 number/100 m. The categories of plastic and tobacco wastes comprised 13.25% and 82.64% of the total LWs, respectively. On average, 0.71 number/100 m of paper were observed in the areas studied, accounting for 2.8% of the total LWs. The presence of suitable waste bins in the areas surveyed underscores the significant influence of individual behavior on urban pollution. Therefore, there is a pressing need to raise awareness among citizens regarding the consequences of littering and to implement more effective urban cleanup methods.