No If’s, Butt’s or Maybe’s for Levin

At 3pm this afternoon at Council Chambers, Horowhenua District Mayor Brendan Duffy and Keep New Zealand Beautiful launch a new campaign designed to rid our footpaths, roads and waterways of cigarette butts.  In aiming to eliminate this significant litter item, members of Keep Levin Beautiful are asking their community to use the cigarette butt litter receptacles now installed in the townships central business district.  
 
In a joint project, twenty new design cigarette butt litter receptacles will be installed to encourage the appropriate disposal of cigarette butts, something that is usually easier said than done for most smokers. A number of older design receptacles will be replaced also.
 
It is not just about receptacles but also about public education.  Members of Keep Levin Beautiful will take to the streets for the next week making smokers aware of the new vandal-proof receptacles, and encouraging them to ‘do the right thing.’
 
“Smokers often contribute to a litter problem which severely degrades the look and feel of our beautiful community and environment when they drop or ‘flick’ their butts without thinking twice” says Cr Tony Rush, Chairman of Keep New Zealand Beautiful and District Councillor.  “We have bins for litter, and it’s dangerous if cigarette butts are disposed with normal litter, so are implementing a simple and effective solution to avert unsightly cigarette butts that are needlessly discarded.  That way, smokers can do their bit to help Keep New Zealand Beautiful as well.
 
“We believe that smokers will respond positively and dispose of their cigarette butts more responsibly, resulting in a reduction of cigarette butts on our streets and ending up in storm-water drains and the environment” said Cr Rush.  “We should be particularly concerned for the impacts cigarette butt litter is having on Lake Horowhenua.”
 
 “The only way to overcome this problem is to help people understand that it is a matter of personal responsibility not to litter the streets and allow cigarette butts into our beautiful waterways.  With this initiative there is no longer an excuse that there’s nowhere to put them”.
 
Since the changes to the Smokefree laws in 2004, which banned smoking in all indoor areas, cigarette butt litter has become more of a problem for Councils. 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.
 
Brendan Duffy, Horowhenua’s Mayor says “the Council, is proud to be working with Keep New Zealand Beautiful on this project and believes that efforts and initiatives like the ‘No If’s, Butt’s, and Maybe’s Campaign provides sensible solutions to address these issues.”