After the launch of a new Keep Louisiana Beautiful campaign, litterbugs can find their messes caught on a new kind of candid camera — LitterCam.
LitterCam is part of KLB’s latest anti-littering campaign that reaches audiences through social media like Facebook and Twitter.
On its Facebook page, KLB asks fans to post photos of litter they see in the state and encourages others to comment on them.
Whitney Breaux, KLB representative and University alumna, said the organization is using digital billboards, local talk shows and radio spots as promotion tools, but this is the first time it has used social media.
Breaux said the LitterCam campaign launched at the beginning of February but has picked up speed in recent weeks.
She said KLB’s Facebook page has seen an increase of more than 300 fans since the campaign launched.
Melanie Peck, KLB Affiliate Services Coordinator, said the campaign’s purpose is to shed light on the litter problem in the state.
She said the campaign’s visual impact will have more of an effect on residents than traditional methods.
Breaux said that’s the main reason KLB chose to create the LitterCam campaign.
“It takes a lot to change people’s behaviors,” she said. “This puts litter in all of our faces.”
Breaux hopes the campaign will encourage people to stop littering and support the organization’s cause.
“We’re trying to create advocates,” Breaux said. “‘Anti-litterbugs,’ you could say.”
Breaux said social media has become increasingly important to KLB’s work, and the organization has a bit of a reputation for being ahead of the curve.
“They were actually the first Keep America Beautiful affiliate to start a [Facebook] page,” she said.
In addition to raising awareness, the LitterCam campaign will alert KLB volunteers and associates to problem areas in the state Peck said.
She said volunteers notify affiliates in each city as photos are uploaded so areas can be cleaned up quickly.
“We have a huge affiliate network,” Peck said. “We try to be pretty active in responding to the photos.”
Randy Ott, German and Spanish sophomore, said he doesn’t think the University is immune to litterbug infestation.
“It’s definitely a problem on campus,” he said.
Ott said he thinks the University should provide more trash cans and recycle bins to encourage students to throw away their trash instead of leaving it on benches or dropping it on the ground.
 
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contact Rachel Warren at [email protected]