Skip to main content Skip to footer unit links
← Back to all capstone projects
2015 Autumn | Education & Outreach

Cigarette Litter in 11 Seattle Parks: Percentage of Trash Relates to Distance of Receptacles

Student(s):

Kiley Sullivan

Program or Department(s):

  • Program on the Environment
  • University of Washington

Site supervisor(s):

Barbara Clabots

Partner(s):

  • Surfrider Foundation

Faculty advisor(s):

Nancy Rivenburgh, Communications, University of Washington

For my Capstone, I worked with the Surfrider Foundation and their “Hold On To Your Butt” (HOTYB) campaign to study the deposition pattern of cigarette litter in Seattle parks and how it corresponds to placement of trash receptacles. I conducted a literature review of previous studies to help provide some background for my research, and to help with the design of my project. I also conducted outreach at Surfrider events and at local businesses to try and garner support for the HOTYB campaign, as well as designing some no-smoking signage and stencils for parks and beaches, respectively. My research found that litter rates increase with the distance to proper receptacles.