Erewash Borough Council is launching a ‘Love your town – anti cigarette littering campaign’ to raise awareness and reduce the amount of cigarette litter around the borough.
The campaign will start on Monday 9 September in line with the launch of a national Public Health drive called ‘Stoptober’ to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking. Cigarette littering awareness posters will be displayed on council refuse vehicles and shop owners in Ilkeston town centre will help promote the campaign by displaying posters.
Leaflets giving details of where to get help and advice for anyone interested in stopping smoking will be available from Ilkeston Town Hall reception and the council’s Neighbourhood Wardens will hand out cigarette butt pouches to members of the public. The heat-proof butt pouches allow smokers to stub out their cigarettes and dispose of them in bins helping to reduce cigarette litter in our town centres. The pouches will also be available at Ilkeston Town Hall reception from September and Long Eaton Town Hall from December this year.
As part of the campaign, the council has also installed additional cigarette butt bins around the Market Place and on Bath Street in Ilkeston, with more to be fitted in Long Eaton later in the year.
A recent consultation survey asked residents for their views on the council’s move to reduce cigarette littering in the borough. Results showed that 60% believe that the discarding of cigarette ends is a major cause of littering problems within Erewash and 95% of respondents agreed with the council’s stance in applying a £75 Fixed Penalty Notice to anyone caught littering cigarette ends.
It is estimated that approximately 9 tonnes of cigarette litter is collected across the borough each year which equates to a substantial cost to the council and the tax payer.
Councillor Barbara Harrison, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for the Environment, said:
“We all have a responsibility to keep our Borough clean and it is not acceptable for smokers to discard their cigarette butts on the streets hoping that someone else will clean up after them. Smokers should be warned that dropping cigarette butts is a littering offence and, if caught, they face an on-the-spot fine of £75.
“Additional cigarette butt bins have been installed and are conveniently located in the town centre and will mean there is no excuse for smokers to throw their cigarette ends on the floor. I would ask residents and visitors to support the council’s campaign and help keep our streets clean”
The council is running a market stall on Ilkeston Market on Friday 27 September and will be handing out leaflets giving details of the support available to anyone wishing to stop smoking. Free butt pouches will also be given out on the day.