Did you know that about 10,500 butts are dropped on our city streets on an average weekday?
Most of these butts end up in the stormwater system and flow into the Yarra River and eventually into Port Phillip Bay, where they pollute the water and harm aquatic animals.
The introduction of smoke-free buildings and changes to the Tobacco Act (1987), which banned smoking in public areas, has led to an increase in the number of cigarette butts discarded on Melbourne’s footpaths, in parks and gutters.
Everyone needs to do the right thing to bin their butts and keep our streets clean.
What Council is doing
The City of Melbourne is strongly committed to reducing cigarette butt litter in the city.
Butt FREE Melbourne
In August and September 2011, the City of Melbourne , Melbourne Water and the EPA are joining forces with Butt FREE Australia to remind smokers that cigarette butt littering is 'not a good look'.
The campaign aims to educate people about the social, economic and environmental impacts of butt littering. Particular attention will be drawnto the fact that butts dropped on city streets end up polluting our local waterways and impacting on the amenity of the city.
In the Melbourne CBD, Butt FREE Melbourne educators will be giving away free pocket ashtrays and stickers to smokers in exchange for a pledge, or promise, to bin their butts.
If you would like to find out more about the campaign please visit www.notagoodlook.com.au
Cigarette butt bins
The City of Melbourne provides and empties more than 200 cigarette butt bins within the CBD and Docklands. In addition to this, more than 200 of our street litter bins throughout the municipality feature a stainless steel butt out plate for smokers. From time to time we also offer incentives for businesses to install butt bins on their own property.
The Council’s daily street cleaning collects thousands of butts from city streets each day before they enter our drains and head towards our waterways.
Fines
Smokers who drop their butts can receive an on the spot fine of more than $100 – or more than $200 if the cigarette is still lit.
Businesses are required to provide sufficient tobacco waste containers for staff and customers. Fines for the improper disposal of cigarette butts range from $100 to $6000 if taken to court. Find out more at Enterprise Melbourne.
What you can do
Tips for smokers
- Look for a butt bin including wall-mounted bins outside shops and offices, Council butt bins or butt out plates on street litter bins.
- Carry your own portable ashtray.
- Always butt out your cigarette before you put it in the bin to avoid bin fires.
- When you use the butt-out plate on street litter bins, make sure the butt is out and then place it inside the bin. If you leave it on the plate, it could blow away and become litter.
- Encourage your workplace and the businesses you visit to supply ashtrays where people smoke.
Useful links