No Ifs Butts or Maybes

Keep New Zealand Beautiful (KNZB) has put together a community based social marketing campaign, available to all local councils and chambers of commerce free of charge, enabling them to implement a simple and effective solution to address the issue of cigarette butt litter.

As a result of changes to the Smokefree Environment Act in 2004, which banned smoking in all indoor areas, cigarette butt litter has increased. Cigarette butts are one of the most common rubbish items in New Zealand and often end up in the waterways, entering the food chains of fish, birds and other marine life who mistake them for food.

While it is common to see rubbish bins along footpaths for general litter, it is less common to find a sensible option for smokers who wish to stub out and appropriately dispose of their finished cigarettes. Specially designed litter receptacles are available free of charge from Keep New Zealand Beautiful for local Councils and Business Associations wishing to implement the campaign in their local area.

This initiative is based on educating smokers so that they dispose of their cigarette butts responsibly. Importantly, we believe this campaign builds a greater awareness of solutions available for litter issues.

If you think your community would benefit from this initiative in working with Keep New Zealand Beautifui please click here to register your interest.

KNZB's acceptance of this funding for anti-litter education programmes in no way endorses or supports smoking. Read our positional statement here

Frequently asked questions about Cigarette Butt Litter

1. Q: What are cigarette butts actually made from?
   A: Most are from cellulose acetate which produce toxins, a form of treated wood pulp, surrounded by paper.
2. Q: Why is cigarette butt litter a concern?
   A: Since the introduction of legislation banning smoking from indoor public places in 2004, smokers now have to congregate outside places of work, hospitality venues, train stations etc. As such, the prevalence of cigarette butt litter has increased. Also they have toxins which release slowly into our marine environment.
3. Q: What are the most effective measures to reduce the incidence of cigarette butt litter?
   A: Keep New Zealand Beautiful (KNZB) believes that education campaigns raising awareness of personal responsibility are the most effective litter abatement strategies.
4. Q: Which local bodies have implemented cigarette butt litter programmes?
   A: At this point, the following councils have introduced cigarette butt litter programmes based on the KNZB approach - Horowhenua District Council, Taupo District Council, Manawatu District Council, Whakatane District Council, Palmerston North City Council, Westland District Council and Hastings District Council and also University of Waikato.
5. Q: How successful is the KNZB approach to cigarette butt litter?
   A: KNZB piloted the campaign in Wellington for eight weeks at the end of 2006 and saw a 30% drop in incidence of cigarette butts. To look at success from a different angle, the campaign implemented in Newmarket, Auckland, saw 100,000 butts collected in the first nine weeks.
6. Q: What comments have been made about the programmes?
   A: Council workers who are responsible for ensuring footpaths and business areas are kept tidy welcomed the move and report a significant reduction