General Steps
On-land Visual Trash Assessment (OVTA) is conducted to assess changes in trash levels over time. OVTAs involve the following general steps for specified land areas with established baseline trash levels:
1. Schedule each OVTA so that it falls roughly half-way between reoccurring control measures (e.g., street sweeping) and does not follow a significant rainfall event (> 0.5 inches of rainfall occurring within 24-hour period before the assessment).
2. Gather OVTA supplies and review trash condition category definitions (see below protocols for specific preparations, including site maps and tools for data collection).
3. Visit each OVTA site and observe trash deposited in each assessment area using the appropriate protocol. Determine the score.
4. Record the OVTA score and other relevant notes for each site.
5. Enter Records into the OVTA Data Portal.
Protocols
The OVTA protocols are summarized below along with links for downloading the full detailed protocols.
Protocol A – Street & Sidewalk Surveys
Use Protocol A (Walking) if the site is associated with streets/sidewalks and has safe pedestrian access. Walk at a normal pace on the sidewalk along the assessment site. Team members should discuss their observations as they walk.
Use Protocol B (Driving) if the site is associated with streets/sidewalks but does not have safe or available pedestrian access (e.g., highways).
Protocol C – Area Based Survey
Use Protocol C (Area-Based) if the area of interest is not associated with the adjacent roadway or sidewalk (e.g., parking lots).
Other Resources
Stormwater Trash Load Reduction Calculator
OVTA Example Videos – to be added, stay tuned!