Presented at Regional ASPA Conf., Michigan, November 2008

1. THE [REGION IV ASPA] MIDDLE AMERICA STATE LITTER SCORECARD : Winners, Losers and In-betweens, In Assessing Statewide Environmental Quality Through Public Property Litter Removal Performances Steve Spacek, M.P.A . The Region IV American Society for Public Administration Conference Western Michigan University, Grand Rapids November 7, 2008

2. Welcome to Michigan! Nationally Ranks “ Below Average ” in Statewide Public Property Litter Eradication

3. The Region IV ASPA “Middle America” States : Colorado; Illinois; Iowa; Kansas; Michigan; Minnesota; Missouri; Nebraska; New Mexico; North Dakota; Oklahoma; South Dakota; Texas; Wisconsin

4. Maintaining a Clean Environment : Litter Eradication/Abatement is a source reduction physical activity that provides a healthy, enjoyable surface environment for humans and wildlife. Littering :Throwing of small amounts of trash/garbage in small, individualized portions. Dumping is littering on a larger, voluminous scale. Both are environmental crimes creating dangers to public health, safety and welfare.

12. SCORECARD SUMMARY: Region IV ASPA Middle America, Nearby and Selected States Objective Subjective Designation Remarks New Mexico 4 6 40 WORST 1, 3, 4 Oklahoma 39 39 BELOW AVERAGE 2, 3 Texas 38 38 BELOW AVERAGE 2, 3 Michigan 35 28 BELOW AVERAGE 4, 9, c, d Illinois 29 32 BELOW AVERAGE 2, 6 Missouri 27 25 AVERAGE North Dakota 26 22 AVERAGE 1, 4, f Colorado 28 16 ABOVE AVERAGE 1, 2, d , e Wisconsin 21 19 ABOVE AVERAGE 4, 9, d South Dakota 14 21 ABOVE AVERAGE 9 Kansas 12 17 ABOVE AVERAGE f Nebraska 15 8 ABOVE AVERAGE a, e Iowa 11 2 BEST a, c, d, e Minnesota 4 1 BEST a, b, d, e IN 30 26 BELOW AVERAGE OH 25 27 AVERAGE NY 19 24 ABOVE AVERAGE MD 8 13 ABOVE AVERAGE TN 41 43 WORST NC 40 41 WORST FL 33 35 BELOW AVERAGE CA 31 36 BELOW AVERAGE WY 5 12 BEST NV 49 44 WORST MS 50 50 WORST VT 1 4 BEST Remarks: 1-High Litter Fatal Crash Deaths 2-Low Per Capita Environmental Spending 3-Poor Statewide Livability 4-High Per Capita Waste Disposal 5-Unconducive Political Administrative Culture 6- High Public Servant Corruption 7-Poor Statewide Government Performance 8-Poor Highway Performance 9-No Statewide Anti-litter Slogan a-Great Statewide Livability b-Low Per Capita Waste Disposal c-Beverage Container Deposits d-Conducive Political Administrative Culture e-Low/No Public Servant Corruption f-Great Highway Performance Copyright 2008, Steve L. Spacek