Local environmental quality: Cigarette litter
Smoking-related litter is one of the most prevalent types of litter as measured by the annual Local Environmental Quality Survey of England. The results from the last three years show that smoker’s materials were present on 79% of survey sites. These items are often time-consuming and expensive to clean-up because of their small size, as well as being unsightly where they are allowed to accumulate.
Government is taking steps to help tackle this form of littering through a combination of regulatory options, partnership work and awareness-raising.
Consultation on the extension of Street Litter Control Notices
Street Litter Control Notices may be issued by local authorities where there is a significant problem with litter on the street. They can be used to place requirements on the occupiers (or owners) of premises to take steps to reduce litter outside their premises, such as the installation of litter bins or clean-up of the litter.
On 13 February Defra launched a consultation on extending these provisions to allow notices to be issued for all types of eating and drinking establishments and office buildings. This is aimed particularly at helping to deal with smoking litter dropped by customers and employees.
This proposal forms part of a package of tools already available to local authorities for tackling litter problems, including the use of fixed penalty notices for individuals caught dropping litter. In June 2005 the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 clarified that smoking-related materials are litter, to encourage greater enforcement against this offence. Defra has published guidance on the litter legislation.
The consultation closes on 8 May 2007. See:
ENCAMS Campaign
A campaign by environmental group Encams is underway.
The new Keep Britain Tidy campaign aims to stamp out cigarette litter and encourage smokers to dispose of their cigarette ends more responsibly.
The campaign aims to:
- communicate that cigarette butts are litter
- reduce littered cigarette ends
- encourage smokers to become more responsible about the way they dispose of cigarette ends
- encourage the use of pocket ashtrays where an appropriate bin isn't available
- increase the provision of dedicated cigarette bins in and around town and city centres by working in partnership with councils
- encourage businesses to increase their cigarette disposal facilities for employees and customers in and around their premises
Defra funds an annual local environmental quality survey of England which measures the state of various environmental indicators. It monitors 12,000 sites and in 2005 found over 79 percent of them strewn with cigarette butts and packets. In 2007, the Government plans to introduce a partial ban on smoking in public places, which will lead to an even bigger increase in cigarette litter.
If you are a smoker you can help by disposing of your cigarette butts in a cigarette bin or in a pocket ashtray. There is information about disposing of cigarette litter and portable ashtrays on the EnCams website. EnCams will also be launching campaigns in June, September 2007 and March 2008. Please visit their website for details at www.encams.org.
Further information
Page last modified: 1 June 2007
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published: 15 March 2006