Change Process: Measurement
Measurement tools are essential to identify and understand the extent of community problems. They are also effective for evaluating programs that have been implemented in response to specific community concerns. Solid facts and data are the best way to show results and quantify success.
Take a look at Keep America Beautiful’s unique set of measurement tools for communities:
COMMUNITY BENEFITS
Measurement tools:
- Identify and quantify community problems
- Help prioritize and target resources
- Assess current laws and ordinances
- Measure progress over time
THE LITTER INDEX
Especially designed for Keep America Beautiful affiliates, this is the most statistically reliable tool for litter assessment in a community.
The Litter Index evaluates through visual and written scoring the amount of litter in selected community areas. Conducting the Litter Index helps build consensus on priority problem areas. As a quantitative measure of progress over time, it is a useful tool for tracking improvement and assessing whether activities are effectively deterring litter.
The Litter Index is easy and inexpensive to conduct. It is reliable for both large and small communities. Certify your community as a Keep America Beautiful affiliate to obtain the Litter Index and get trained to use it.
COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS
Put a price tag on the value of community programs using the Keep America Beautiful Cost/Benefit Analysis. In addition to calculating private donations, grants, and government contributions, it includes assessing the value of in-kind gifts, volunteer hours, and other services.
LITTER/SOLID WASTE SURVEY
This survey is an information-gathering process that assesses current community activities to manage solid waste and litter. The survey provides a base line of practices, regulations, and resources to help set objectives and develop programs. Based on survey results, a community can effectively design or recommend projects to target specific concerns.
WINDSHIELD SURVEY AND
NEIGHBORHOOD SPOTTER CHECKLIST
These easy surveys can be used by neighborhood groups or other volunteers to “spot” problems in the neighborhood—everything from illegal dumping to missing road signs and graffiti. Survey scoring also allows for indicating priority and a visual assessment of the quantity of the problem.
“WASTE IN THE WORKPLACE” WASTE AUDIT
An effective waste reduction program is based on accurate information about the quantity and composition of the waste stream. A waste audit sets a business on the path to make informed decisions about how to allocate resources for source reduction and recycling.
Use the Keep America Beautiful Waste Audit to define the composition of a business’s discards by examining what materials enter and exit the facility.
COMMUNITY ATTITUDE SURVEY
Use as-is or adapt this model Keep America Beautiful Community Attitude Survey to measure public opinion about litter and littering. This simple survey will heighten public awareness about litter, and provide community leaders with insight about the types of education or public awareness that are needed to change litter behavior. Repeat the survey after implementation of litter activities to measure any changes in public attitudes and behavior.
"We don't use the Litter Index to point fingers, but we have used it to focus our Adopt-An-Area program, Community Clean ups, and Adult Collection Crews."Jenifer Way-Young, Coordinator, Keep Delaware County Beautiful.
Take a look at Keep America Beautiful’s unique set of measurement tools for communities:
COMMUNITY BENEFITS
Measurement tools:
- Identify and quantify community problems
- Help prioritize and target resources
- Assess current laws and ordinances
- Measure progress over time
THE LITTER INDEX
Especially designed for Keep America Beautiful affiliates, this is the most statistically reliable tool for litter assessment in a community.
The Litter Index evaluates through visual and written scoring the amount of litter in selected community areas. Conducting the Litter Index helps build consensus on priority problem areas. As a quantitative measure of progress over time, it is a useful tool for tracking improvement and assessing whether activities are effectively deterring litter.
The Litter Index is easy and inexpensive to conduct. It is reliable for both large and small communities. Certify your community as a Keep America Beautiful affiliate to obtain the Litter Index and get trained to use it.
COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS
Put a price tag on the value of community programs using the Keep America Beautiful Cost/Benefit Analysis. In addition to calculating private donations, grants, and government contributions, it includes assessing the value of in-kind gifts, volunteer hours, and other services.
LITTER/SOLID WASTE SURVEY
This survey is an information-gathering process that assesses current community activities to manage solid waste and litter. The survey provides a base line of practices, regulations, and resources to help set objectives and develop programs. Based on survey results, a community can effectively design or recommend projects to target specific concerns.
WINDSHIELD SURVEY AND
NEIGHBORHOOD SPOTTER CHECKLIST
These easy surveys can be used by neighborhood groups or other volunteers to “spot” problems in the neighborhood—everything from illegal dumping to missing road signs and graffiti. Survey scoring also allows for indicating priority and a visual assessment of the quantity of the problem.
“WASTE IN THE WORKPLACE” WASTE AUDIT
An effective waste reduction program is based on accurate information about the quantity and composition of the waste stream. A waste audit sets a business on the path to make informed decisions about how to allocate resources for source reduction and recycling.
Use the Keep America Beautiful Waste Audit to define the composition of a business’s discards by examining what materials enter and exit the facility.
COMMUNITY ATTITUDE SURVEY
Use as-is or adapt this model Keep America Beautiful Community Attitude Survey to measure public opinion about litter and littering. This simple survey will heighten public awareness about litter, and provide community leaders with insight about the types of education or public awareness that are needed to change litter behavior. Repeat the survey after implementation of litter activities to measure any changes in public attitudes and behavior.
"We don't use the Litter Index to point fingers, but we have used it to focus our Adopt-An-Area program, Community Clean ups, and Adult Collection Crews."Jenifer Way-Young, Coordinator, Keep Delaware County Beautiful.
“The Litter Index is so visible and involves so much of the community that it must be paid attention to.”Gennie Lanford, Carolina First Bank, and member Keep Georgetown Beautiful Board of Directors.
“Now I’m a ‘litterologist!’ Now I know the sources of litter and its impact on our community, and I will never forget what I’ve learned here today.”Rev. Phil Thraikill, Duncan United Methodist Church and Litter Index volunteer.
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