NBBC PM System - NI 195a - Litter (Street and Environmental Cleanliness)

Litter (Street and Environmental Cleanliness)

There is no statutory definition of litter. The Environmental Protection Act 1990 (s.87) states that litter is 'anything that is dropped, thrown, left or deposited that causes defacement, in a public place'. This accords with the popular interpretation that 'litter is waste in the wrong place'.
However, local authority cleansing officers and their contractors have developed a common understanding of the term and the definition used for NI 195 (and for the LEQSE) is based on this industry norm.
Litter includes mainly synthetic materials, often associated with smoking, eating and drinking, that are improperly discarded and left by members of the public; or are spilt during waste management operations.
Grade A is given where there is no litter or refuse; grade B is given where a transect is predominantly free of litter and refuse except for some small items; grade C is given where there is a widespread distribution of litter and refuse, with minor accumulations; and grade D where a transect is heavily littered, with significant accumulations.
Three Intermediate Grades will also be used. These are:
B +, between Grade A and Grade B;
B - , between Grade B and Grade C; and
C -, between Grade C and Grade D