Cigarette Litter

Most people who throw a cigarette butt on the ground really don't consider themselves littering. They don't understand that it is littering just as much as if they had thrown a bottle or piece of paper on the ground. They will probably tell you that the cigarette butt is biodegradable. Well, it is. Various sources have stated that cigarette filters will decompose within 18 months to 10 years. That's a long time to sit on the sidewalk or roadside.

Ways to help end cigarette litter

Are you a smoker?

Use ashtrays or pocket ashtrays when you are outside.
Before you begin to smoke outside, look for the receptacle you'll use when you finish smoking.
Use the ashtray in your car and don't throw butts out the windows.

Are you a business owner?

Provide employees and visitors with ash receptacles at all entrances.

Photos

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CLPP?

The Cigarette Litter Prevention Program is one program in KAB’s portfolio of programs designed to support local community improvement in reducing cigarette butt litter. A local “Team of Stakeholders” from businesses, government and local resident organizations uses the CLPP’s four proven solutions to reduce cigarette butt litter in their community. Based on the success in 2008 of a local implementation, the local ‘Teams of Stakeholders’ will sustain and expand their local Cigarette Litter Prevention Program.

When will the local CLPP be launched?

The local programs will be launched by the local “Team of Stakeholders” within 2008. The local Team will be responsible for implementing the program and for online reporting of its “Cigarette Litter Scan” results for the preliminary and the follow-up scans. These must be reported no later than end-August, 2008.

Where will the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program be conducted?

The State Leader identified above is responsible for a minimum of six new local CLPP implementations. The community settings will be chosen by the local “Team of Stakeholders” and should be in ‘mixed-use’ areas of the community with foot-traffic. Mixed-used neighborhoods will include businesses, residences, retail & service storefronts, and government offices.

What are the components of the program?

Each CLPP implementation will include the following field-tested solutions to reducing cigarette butt litter:

Review local ORDINANCES and CODES for references to litter and specifically cigarette litter. Engage enforcement officers and magistrates of the court to gain their support of the CLPP through enforcement of these local ordinances and codes.
Publish CLPP PSA’s - public service advertising - in local media and other settings to build awareness of the issue with people in the program neighborhood.
Purchase, strategically install and maintain ASH RECEPTACLES at ‘transition points’ in the community.
Distribute POCKET ASHTRAYS within the area of CLPP implementation to adult smokers.

How will results be measured?

The local “Team of Stakeholders” will conduct two “Cigarette Litter Scans” in each community by counting the cigarette butt litter address by address at the sidewalk and the gutter, in a small area within the larger program implementation area. The local “Cigarette Litter Scan Team” may be members of the “Team of Stakeholders” or other adults in the community who support the CLPP implement. The “CL Scan Team” will follow KAB’s scan guidelines available online. The first scan will be conducted prior to launching the local program; a second scan will be conducted four to six weeks after the program has been launched. Results of each scan will be reported online and no later than end-August, 2008.

Mission Statement

The Keep Screven Beautiful Commission encourages and educates all citizens of Screven County to end litter, minimize solid waste and beautify our county. The Commission works toward improving litter and solid waste control ordinances and seeks effective enforcement of all pertinent ordinances.

Keep Screven Beautiful

P.O. Box 159

Sylvania, GA 30467

Phone: 912.978.1076

Email: ksb@keepscrevenbeautiful.com