Every litter bit

A survey conducted in June determined that the litter problem in this part of Southeast Missouri ranks no higher than 2.5 on a scale of 4, a finding that surprised the chairman of the Keep Southeast Missouri Beautiful technical committee.

A push by Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau County, Jackson and Scott City to curtail litter during the past few years may have had an effect.

The survey was a prerequisite to applying for membership in Keep America Beautiful, a national organization that works to clean up the countryside. The organization has many programs that could be helpful in the campaign.

Rhett Hendrickson, chairman of the Keep Southeast Missouri Beautiful technical committee, is correct in underscoring the need for better education about litter. Preventing litter is preferable to cleaning it up.

Five months after the conclusion of the survey it's high time the committee got its paperwork submitted to launch the next phase in the never-ending battle against litter. Winter is the season when litter tends to pile up. It would be good to have all the resources of Keep America Beautiful available when the warmer days of spring roll around and people start complaining about the littered landscape.