Some Good News About Cigarette Litter Prevention

As prevalent as cigarette butt litter is, we don’t have to shrug our shoulders and give up.  There is much we can do to educate the public and provide opportunities for improvement.  Here is one of the success stories that we’re proud to tell you about.

Town Centre Park in the Town of Kilmarnock, has nine acres of lush green space, with picnic areas, fields, and playgrounds for public use. But they were struggling with the problem of cigarette butt litter. Their Mayor and staff were going to the park every day to pick up cigarette butts, and gathered hundreds of butts each week! They were surprised to see that visitors to the park tossed butts near the children’s areas, vendor lots, and walking paths.

The Town applied for a KVB 30 in 30 Green Grant, and was selected to receive a $1,000 award to implement a Cigarette Litter Prevention Program (CLPP). They placed more cigarette butt receptacles in high traffic transition points, and two informational signs at the entrance to the children’s areas. They also posted signs to educate the public that cigarette butts do not biodegrade, and should be properly disposed of instead of thrown on the ground.

Several months later we were delighted to receive a report from the Town saying that their “Don’t Be a Butt” campaign was very successful! They reduced the amount of littered cigarette butts from hundreds per week, to NONE on the ground around the children’s area in the matter of nine weeks!

Our Green Grants program will begin accepting grant applications again in Spring of 2021 for programs and projects such as the one in Kilmarnock.

Until then, we are giving away Cigarette Butt Receptacles to businesses or organizations who have a need, and will maintain them.  Enter your name today!