They were bright orange with the words LITTER BUG printed in large white upper-case letters on the lid, along with a large white arrow pointing inside, and had a circular cover that pivoted open by one edge of the lid. The name refers to litterbugs, a slang term used since the late 1940s for people who throw their trash on the ground in public. In contrast to the usual meaning, the Litter Bug actually helped discourage people from littering, listening for anyone to mention they want to throw something away, moving close to them, and opening its lid in readiness.