Counting 35 Billion Pieces of Litter, Part 2: What the 2026 National Litter Study Reveals Next

In part two of this two-part episode of Do Beautiful Things, host Jenny Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful (KAB), talks with David Scott, PhD, KAB’s Senior Vice President of Data and Research, about the latest insights from the 2026 National Litter Study. Together, they unpack surprising litter trends across the United States—from the scale of coastal pollution to the often-overlooked problem of small litter and the rise in cardboard and vehicle debris. They also highlight encouraging progress, including a significant decline in cigarette butt litter, and discuss how prevention, community action, and smarter solutions can help build cleaner, greener communities for everyone.