English Language & Usage Asked by Steve Barnes on June 14, 2021
In maritime contexts there is a specific difference between flotsam and jetsam i.e. both are drifting materials that have come from a ship but flotsam has been washed overboard while jetsam has been jettisoned or thrown overboard. However, when we are on land items dropped to the ground seem to be simply referred to as litter regardless of the intent of the discarding party – I have even heard a tale of someone being approached as they left a cashpoint (or ATM) and asked if some cash they had dropped was theirs and on answering yes being fined more than that amount for littering.
I am looking for a word or phrase that distinguishes between litter that has been discarded intentionally and items dropped accidentally.
To add to the similarity to flotsam we have a situation locally where people correctly sorted their recycling and placed the containers (bags in our area) out for collection on the evening before collection was due but unfortunately it was the proverbial dark & stormy night so the area is now littered with wind scattered former recycling. This is the sort of situation that I would really like a concise description for.
If you want to make it very obvious, I think you just need to use two words, like intentional litter and accidental litter.
Otherwise, leavings or leftovers might come with a little intentionality baked-in, but only a little. I think it might be too fine a hair to try and split reliably.
Answered by Mihai B on June 14, 2021
"accidental" or "unintentional" litter
Those seem to be the most prevalent terms for describing such litter. I cannot find litter-specific words to compare with flotsam and jetsam.
For public area recycling and refuse, the accidental litter problem is also addressed through changes to container design.
In addition to intentional littering, almost half of litter on U.S. roadways is now accidental or unintentional litter, usually debris that falls off improperly secured trash, recycling collection vehicles and pickup trucks
This means that Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) must not be issued for accidental littering – eg if something falls out of a pocket – and that the offender should be given the chance to pick up the litter before an FPN is issued.
Intentional littering is a behavioral choice based on apathy, lack of social pressure to do the right thing, ignorance of the law and an absence of realistic penalties or consistent enforcement, or it is a social rebellion and a disregard of authority. People who litter represent a variety of social economic backgrounds.
Unintentional littering can result from unsecured vehicle loads and overflowing trash containers and dumpsters.
Answered by Cascabel on June 14, 2021
Perhaps strewn (untidily scattered) is applicable.
For example after a stormy night, the recycling was strewn all over the street.
Answered by Wade B on June 14, 2021
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