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Hammersmith & Fulham campaign to stub out cigarette litter is a big success
Katharine Barney29 Apr 2010
Cigarette litter has been reduced by 40 per cent on a London borough's streets after a campaign.
Hammersmith & Fulham council promoted personal “ButtsOut” pocket ashtrays in January and February to encourage smokers not to drop their stubs on the pavement.
The orange boxes were sold for £1 at retailers
and pubs and the council's waste contractor Serco targeted streets to make them cleaner.
Preliminary results of the campaign, verified by Keep Britain Tidy, revealed 1,038 butts in test sites, compared with 1,744 before the initiative.
Lyn Carpenter, director of residents' services, said: “We are thrilled with these initial results but there is much more to be done if we are to rid the borough's streets of cigarette litter completely.
“This campaign was also successful in educating people that dropping their butts on the pavement is anti-social and completely unacceptable.
“We will not allow the streets to be treated as a giant ashtray. If you still plan to drop your butts then be prepared to pay a £75 fine.”
The council is the first in London to promote the ashtrays. The scheme's success means others are likely to follow suit in the run-up to the Olympics.
Reader views (4)
Mr S.Port, London - you sound like a non-smoker expecting smokers to think the same as you do over smoking. Trust me, it ain't gonna happen.
Don't get me wrong, I dislike smoking as much as you apparently do. The difference is that I'm an ex-(heavy) smoker and know how the other side thinks. Compel people to do anything and they will rebel. You need to persuade for best results. They have to WANT to change.
- Rogan, Irving, 29/04/2010 21:39
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Your comment above appears a little inacurate.
In London Borough of Merton, Stubbi pouches, have been handed out to residents and commuters for at least the last 6 months to deter cigarette butts from being discarded, particularly around railway stations, with great success.
- Terry Robins, Merton, 29/04/2010 20:17
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Stop the disgusting chewing gum litterers as well. Ugh.
- Frederick, London, 29/04/2010 14:07
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The council should try and deter people from smoking in the first place, and litter wouldnt be so bad.
If they put a stop to the ad bins that are placed on the front of nearly every shop on the high street, that will go a long way to getting smokers to quit the habit. These bins are unsightly, some shops or offices have 5 or 6 screwed onto the walls and are a reminder to people to light up. I am sure many would quit the habit if they had to carry there own ash tray.
- Mr S.Port, London, 29/04/2010 11:08
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