What is not considered littering in our database?
We do not include moments where something is dropped by accident, like groceries falling during a chaotic scene, or when natural things like an apple core are tossed into the woods. We also leave out scenes of large-scale destruction, such as cars exploding or buildings falling. We look for small, everyday choices—when a character treats the world as if it will always take what they leave behind.
About the Project What counts as an official on-screen sighting?
We notice every time a character on screen chooses to throw away, drop, or leave behind something artificial, with no plan to return for it or put it in a bin. This might be a cigarette flicked away, a fast food bag tossed from a car, a phone smashed on the pavement, or a coffee cup left on a bench. If something is left behind and becomes part of the scenery, we include it.
About the Project What is the most commonly seen instance of littering in films?
The cigarette butt flick appears again and again and is perhaps the most common. Throwing a takeaway bag from a moving car is not far behind. Cigarette filters linger for years, breaking down into microplastics and chemicals that seep into soil and water. These small acts, repeated on screen, have become some of the most careless habits shown in film.
Impact & Awareness What types of discarded items do you keep a record of?
We track cigarette ends, takeaway coffee cups, plastic bottles, fast-food bags, drink cans, and the more dramatic moments—like a crushed phone, a tossed SIM card, or a tracking device smashed and left behind.
About the Project What is the procedure for submitting a scene that I have spotted?
If you notice a character discarding rubbish without thinking twice, you can visit our Submit a Scene page. Just share the title, when it happened (even if it is just a rough guess), and a few words about what was left behind.
Submitting a Scene Why does on-screen littering really matter?
The stories we watch shape the habits we carry, often without us noticing. Years of seeing cigarettes flicked away or takeaway bags tossed from car windows, have made these actions seem almost invisible. By noticing and sharing these moments, we hope to turn carelessness into a chance for real awareness.
Impact & Awareness Are you trying to cancel films or shame filmmakers?
Not at all. We care deeply about cinema. This project is a thoughtful, sometimes playful look at the shortcuts we use in storytelling. When a character is meant to seem troubled, rebellious, or hurried, tossing something aside is a familiar sign. We simply feel it is time to notice and count these moments.
About the Project What is the Littering in Movies project?
We are an open archive, quietly observing and collecting moments in film and television where characters treat rubbish bins as an afterthought. Whether it is an action hero flicking away a cigarette or someone hiding a SIM card in the woods, we follow the patterns that make littering seem ordinary in our stories.
About the Project 