Fredericksburg’s Clean and Green Commission
The City of Fredericksburg
Clean and Green Commission
Cigarette Butts are Litter Campaign
Do:
The Commission recognized that cigarette litter in the downtown historic and commercial section of the city had increased since smoking indoors had become against the law.
Did:
- The Commission applied for a grant from Keep Virginia Beautiful.
- Matching funds were received from the City of Fredericksburg and the DEQ Non-Competitive Litter Grant.
- A task committee was formed.
- A timeline and budget for goals was developed. (Appendix A)
- Identified the worst littered areas by doing a scan and targeted businesses therein to support the efforts. The group initially approached the project by doing an initial scan over a 2+ block area. A total of 2,414 butts were picked up.
- Handed out pocket ashtrays with education component. Some hand out on the street work was done but the significant impact came from the adopting of displays given to target businesses. The displays were made by the City Public Works Office. Businesses that put out a display were visited and refilled as needed. 12 Businesses are currently in the display/handout program.
- Receive permission from the City’s CPURC to purchase, get business adoption of and city installation of sidewalk ashcan receptacles.
- Once approved by CPRUC a business proposal to adopt the cans was solicited to target businesses.
Results:
- The Commission received fund support from 3 sources.
- The Commission performed before and after scans of the target area. A 35% reduction in cigarette litter was attained. Most impressive was the dramatic reduction in butts in areas that were high volume in the 1’st scan. (Appendix B )
- 1,000 pockets ashtrays were distributed. 12 businesses are willing to stay on with this program once we receive the additional 2,000 pocket ashtrays on order.
- Ten businesses agreed to adopt one sidewalk ashcan and keep it emptied.
- Three also agreed to purchase a backdoor can for employee use. Those cans have been purchased and received.
- Once the City Public Works puts these in place a 3’rd scan will be performed to see its impact.
Future:
The Commission desires to expand upon and sustain the program into the next year.
Goals include:
- Perform additional scans to tangibly verify the impact of the efforts.
- Apply for additional grant support.
- Keep the pocket ashtray distribution displays active.
- Add up to ten more sidewalk and employee cans to the area.
- Display posters in the area.
- Do window decals for businesses supporting the program.
- Add the support of the City’s River Steward and the City police force.
APPENDIX A
Task | Date(s) | Comment | |||
Task Force Meet | 8/24/2011 | ||||
Drafts for task force input | notes on meeting | 8/25/2011 | Package for solicitation to businesses | ||
budget , program components | 8/30/2011 | to try and encourage adoption of a | |||
business proposal | need CPURC approve | 10/20/2011 | sidewalk container for cigarette butts. | ||
Develop Media Outreach | week of 8/29 | Anne, Nancy | |||
press release OPED | week of Oct 24 | Anne | |||
proclamation | 11/8/2011 | Paula | |||
website | 8/30/2011 | ||||
posters | |||||
Sidewalk Container Component | |||||
Prepare for CPURC approval | 9/10/2011 | If task force agrees with draft | |||
CPRUC meets | 10/5/2011 | will forward to Doug Fawcett | |||
ID target businesses | 8/30/2011 | ||||
Prepare Business proposals | dependent on | week of 10/10 | |||
Visit businesses | CPURC approval | 10/24-10/25 | |||
Order ashcans | week of 10/12 | ||||
Pocket Ashtray Component | |||||
Identify area of study | week of 8/29 | Work with Anne Little | |||
order pocket ashtrays | 6/22/2011 | 1,000 delivery by 9/15/11 | |||
Get cards printed | week of 9/6 | 1,000 use KVB model | |||
Hand out displays ashtrays | week of 10/24 | ||||
Check on Businesses refill | week of 11/14 | ||||
Officer (River Steward) | start with 50 ashtrays | ||||
Cigarette scan 1 | |||||
Set potential date(s) | 9/17 thru 10/1 | Sat. preferably afternoon or Sun. | |||
solicit volunteers | 9/1/2011 | Anne Little UMW students | |||
Cigarette scan 2 | 11/20 0r 12/11 | Must be same day of week and similar | |||
timeframe as scan 1 | |||||
Report to KVB | 12/31/2011 | ||||
Appendix BCity of Fredericksburg |
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Clean and Green Commission | |||||||||
Cigarette Butt Litter | |||||||||
FIELD SCAN DOCUMENT | |||||||||
Preliminary Scan Date: 09/25/11 | Follow-Up Scan Date: 12/11/2011 | ||||||||
# of Butts | # of Butts | ||||||||
In Gutter or | On | # of Ash | Total # | In Gutter or | On | # of Ash | Total # | ||
Section # | Designated Area | Near Drain | Sidewalk | Receptacles | in area | Near Drain | Sidewalk | Receptacles | in area |
Section 1: | 400 Block William St (rt side) | 19 | 18 | 0 | 37 | 78 | 60 | 1 | 138 |
Section 2: | 300 Block William St (rt side) | 37 | 110 | 1 | 147 | 118 | 49 | 1 | 167 |
Section 3: | 200 Block William St (rt side) | 28 | 103 | 0 | 131 | 52 | 79 | 131 | |
Section 4: | 100 Block William St (rt side) | 16 | 31 | 0 | 47 | 32 | 9 | 41 | |
Section 5: | 400 Block William St (lt side) | 29 | 65 | 0 | 94 | 24 | 24 | 48 | |
Section 6: | 300 Block William St (lt side) | 43 | 64 | 1 | 107 | 27 | 64 | 91 | |
Section 7: | 200 Block William St (lt side) | 149 | 158 | 0 | 307 | 77 | 43 | 120 | |
Section 8: | 100 Block William St (lt side) | 34 | 64 | 0 | 98 | 24 | 25 | 49 | |
Section 9: | 900 Block Sophia St (rt side) | 25 | 26 | 0 | 51 | 23 | 14 | 37 | |
Section 10: | 900 Block Sophia St (lt side) | 19 | 14 | 0 | 33 | 50 | 31 | 81 | |
Section 11: | 100 Block George St (rt side) | 38 | 93 | 0 | 131 | 38 | 13 | 51 | |
Section 12: | 200 Block George St (rt side) | 19 | 23 | 1 | 42 | 24 | 39 | 63 | |
Section 13: | 100 Block George St (lt side) | 172 | 255 | 0 | 427 | 81 | 34 | 1 | 116 |
Section 14: | 200 Block George St (lt side) | 21 | 52 | 0 | 73 | 9 | 15 | 24 | |
Section 15: | 900 Block Caroline St (rt side) | 249 | 19 | 2 | 268 | 51 | 43 | 2 | 96 |
Section 16: | 900 Block Caroline St (lt side) | 49 | 90 | 1 | 139 | 49 | 38 | 1 | 88 |
Section 17: | 900 Block Princess Anne St (lt side) | 37 | 47 | 0 | 84 | 29 | 12 | 1 | 42 |
Section 18 | 900 Block Princess Anne St (rt side) | 18 | 34 | 0 | 52 | 20 | 14 | 34 | |
Section 19 | 500 Block William St. (lt side) | 5 | 44 | 0 | 49 | 28 | 32 | 60 | |
Section 20 | 500 Block William St. (rt side) | 33 | 64 | 0 | 97 | 79 | 28 | 1 | 107 |
TOTALS | 6 | 2414 | TOTALS | 8 | 1584 |