'litter-control' originates from Modern English as a compound of 'litter' and 'control'. 'litter' ultimately comes from Old French 'litiere' meaning 'bed' or 'straw' and later came to mean 'refuse scattered', while 'control' comes from Old French 'contre-rolle' (from Medieval Latin 'contrarotulus') where 'contra-' meant 'against' and 'rotulus/rotulus' related to 'roll/registry'.

'litter' changed from Old French 'litiere' (originally 'bed, straw') to Middle English with senses including 'things thrown about' and later 'refuse scattered', and 'control' passed from Medieval Latin 'contrarotulus' to Old French 'contre-rolle' then to Middle English 'control', eventually forming the compound modern English 'litter-control'.

Initially the component words had separate senses ('litter' referring to bedding/strewn material and later to scattered refuse; 'control' referring to checking or keeping records), but over time the compound 'litter-control' came to mean the organized prevention and management of discarded waste in public spaces.