Fact Sheet: Litter Observations Made Easy
Litter observations are used to discretely record littering behaviours of members of the public at specific sites,
such as waste and recycling bins, park benches, tables, identified hotspots and other areas.
Understanding behaviours through observations can assist in developing better interventions or in campaign
development. The results may help you target a specific demographic or identify the need for new or
improved infrastructure.
Litter observations are recorded for people both littering and disposing of litter correctly and can be used in
conjunction with litter counts.
This fact sheet provides step-by-step instructions on how to conduct and integrate litter observations, using
the Local Litter Measurement Toolkit Litter Observation Form into projects to be an effective planning and
evaluation tool.
Useful terms and references

Local Litter Measurement Toolkit (LLMT): The LLMT is a practical, useful litter measurement tool which
can be adopted by local governments and land managers to support a consistent approach to litter
and illegal dumping measurement and data analysis. It can be downloaded here: www.litter.vic.gov.au

LLMT Litter Hotshots Rating Tool: This is a visual litter assessment tool that helps standardise the
extent of littering or illegal dumping incidents. The tool is presented as a scaled set of photographs
that vary in terms of the extent of littering or illegal dumping. There are five photographs of litter and
five photographs of illegal dumping.

LLMT Litter Observation Form: The Litter Observation Form is used to record human behavioural
factors associated with littering and illegal dumping. It captures information on how and why people
litter and dump illegally and the surroundings and infrastructure that influence this. Each Litter
Observation Form can be entered into the Litter Observation Worksheet in the LLMT Spreadsheet.

LLMT Litter Count Form: The Litter Count Form is a quick and easy tool for conducting litter counts
and captures information about recyclables and non-recyclable materials. Each Litter Count Form can
be entered into the Litter Count Form Worksheet in the LLMT Spreadsheet.
Tips to help maximise the effectiveness of litter observations

Litter observations alone may not provide a complete understanding of behaviours. Additionally,
interviews or surveys with members of the public on their attitudes and values towards litter and
littering, and their behaviours, can be undertaken to complement behavioural information and litter
counts. For more information on how to plan and undertake interviews or surveys, see the tools
section of the online Evaluation Toolbox.

Ideally half an hour should be spent per litter observation session. The more sessions undertaken, the
more robust and representative the information will be. Undertaking several litter observations over
one week is recommended to gain a good insight into behaviours at a particular location at a particular
time.

Litter observations are best undertaken with 1 or 2 persons, especially in larger or busy areas.

It is important to be discrete, so as to avoid being seen observing, and therefore influencing, the
behaviours of the people you want to observe. Depending on the context, you may need to sit on a
Project Managed by Sustainability Victoria
Level 28 Urban Workshop 50 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Vic 3000
P (03) 8626 8761
F (03) 9663 1007
donna.shiel@sustainability.vic.gov.au
www.litter.vic.gov.au
park bench or a café, or pretend to have a picnic, or sit at the beach. It is best to avoid being seen
with a clipboard in hand.

Remember your Personal Protective Equipment, especially sun protection, when undertaking litter
observations.

Complete a new row on the Litter Observation Form for each littering behaviour observed.

It is recommended that you undertake a ‘test run’ to get some practice in completing the Litter
Observation Form whilst observing. It may be worth getting two people to observe with each
completing a form in order to compare results and see how precise the observation are (i.e. closeness
of observations from each other).
Conducting a litter observation
1. Identify the site(s) you wish to observe. These may be in response to identified hotspots, litter reports or
spots where you are trying to assess the impact of new bin infrastructure, signage, education or
enforcement (blitz).
2. Find out when people frequent the site that is to be monitored and how busy it is. It is also important to
find an observation point that is at a distance in order to avoid being seen, but which allows adequate
vision of the people and their behaviours. Alternatively, you can try to be amongst the crowd you are
observing as long as you are able to be discrete (e.g. sitting at tables in an eating area etc.).
3. Record the location of the observation point so that future monitoring can be undertaken from the same
spot. It may be worth marking on a map the location of the observer, and the area that is being observed
so that future observations can be undertaken from the same spot, and focus on the same area.
4. If two people are observing, it is important that each person knows the area that they are observing. If it
is a large area, split the area in two. If it is an area where there are passers-by, you may need to decide
on a method to identify which observer will visually follow a particular person (e.g. telling the other
observer that they are following the person in the blue top).
5. In the Litter Observation Form, complete the details about location, including bins and other
infrastructure.
6. When you are ready to commence your observation period, write down the starting time and start
recording observations on the Litter Observation Form.
7. You can undertake a number of observation periods within one observation session. For example, you may
want to undertake a 10 minute observation period, take a break, and start another 10 minute period. For
each period, write down the start and end time.
8. For each observation, mark in one of the four ‘Item’ columns to indicate if the litter involved is Recyclable,
Waste, Cigarette butt or if you are Unsure.
9. Next place a mark in one of the behaviour columns to indicate if litter was placed in the correct bin (if
there is no recycling bin, note this at the start of the form and treat all items as general waste). The other
options are to identify people who leave litter lying around where they were sitting (e.g. tables, on the
ground), and those that throw or drop litter.
Project Managed by Sustainability Victoria
Level 28 Urban Workshop 50 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Vic 3000
P (03) 8626 8761
F (03) 9663 1007
donna.shiel@sustainability.vic.gov.au
www.litter.vic.gov.au
If a bin is full and an individual places an item on top of a bin and it falls out or on the side of the bin
entrance, then we recommend recording this as a bin disposal. Whilst a better behaviour may be to take
the item with them, the individual has attempted to perform the desired behaviour, however in this case
the infrastructure has not allowed them.
10. Complete the required demographic characteristics such as whether they are male or female and their
approximate age. Also indicate whether the people are by themselves or in groups.
11. At the end of the observation period, make sure you write down the end time.
Integrating this tool into project plans and evaluation
Example project aims:
 To determine the effectiveness of newly installed public place recycling bins.
OR
 To determine a target audience for the new litter campaign.
Litter observations can be conducted at the beginning, middle and end of the project, along with litter counts,
to support aims such as those above.
The Litter Observation Worksheet in the LLMT Spreadsheet has a number of charts which can be used to show
changes over time in demographics and behaviours of litterers and these can be used in reports and
evaluations to show effectiveness.
Three observations sessions are recommended:
1. Initial observation: Gather your baseline data before the project launch / infrastructure installation.
2. Middle observation: Conduct another litter observation session to track progress.
3. End count: Conduct a third litter observation session to compare with baseline data and to show
change over time.
Remember, the more observations the merrier!
Project Managed by Sustainability Victoria
Level 28 Urban Workshop 50 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Vic 3000
P (03) 8626 8761
F (03) 9663 1007
donna.shiel@sustainability.vic.gov.au
www.litter.vic.gov.au