News

The Doctor prescribes behaviour change

23 March 2011

The Doctor is back with his weekly analysis of the public’s behaviour. This week he is tackling the issues of behaviour change and dog fouling.  We sense the doctor has been doing some soul searching in the hope of finding out the real reason people litter. Read it now.

If you want to take part in the Doctor’s surgery email him your questions.  Responses will be posted in his blog next week.

Comments

Comment on this article

• jackie forrest, South East

  People litter because it's become a habit and nobody asks them not to do it! Leisure Centres don't let themselves be seen to support anti-littering. I asked a local leisure centre what they did to stop their customers littering the car park. It took 2 years for them to reply, but they just told me what they did to pick it up. When I pointed out my question was "What do you do to stop it happening?" - they replied again telling me of the extensive efforts they went to, in conjunction with the Local Authority, to pick up the litter. In other words, they don't do anything to try and stop it - just pull out the stops to allow it to continue. I had, in the first place, suggested they had space for a plea above the exit doors "Litter our Bins, not our Car Park" - and that swimming club members could be reminded to use litter bins when they leave the building. At that time the car park at the pool was very badly littered, especially after Gala weekends which involved the club. I have asked the local Housing Association to remind dog-owning tenants of the local dog fouling policies - they weren't happy to do that - "Not our Land!" was the initial response I received. If people in authority can't let themselves be seen to support anti-littering - people are never going to change what has become a habit. I have asked the local Community Centre to get the children to clear up any litter after their arranged summer activities...but that wasn't supported because "it might put them off from attending!"

• Jackie Forrest, South East

  The real reason why people litter is because they don't care, and they pay Council Tax - so you don't have to worry about throwing your rubbish on the ground because "they pay a man to do that!" (pick it up). Apparently paying Council Tax dispenses with the need to take pride in where you live! Some children don't even know what a litter bin is - some have never been asked - as an individual - to pick up the rubbish they have just thrown on the ground- some have teachers that will say what the children do off the school premises is not their responsibity - nothing to do with the school. (I know, because that's the attitude I've been faced with initially when I 've telephoned schools to complain about pupils eating their "breakfast" on the way to school and throwing the wrappers away!)