No If's, Butt's or Maybe's for Levin

Horowhenua District Council and Keep New Zealand Beautiful are pleased to
announce the launch of a new campaign designed to rid our footpaths of
cigarette butts. In aiming to eliminate this significantlitter item members
of Keep Levin Beautiful are asking their community to help Keep Levin
Beautiful by using the cigarette butt litter receptacles being installed in
the townships central business district.

The campaign will be officially launched by Mayor Brendan Duffey at
Horowhenua District Council Chambers, 3pm Wednesday 23rd June.

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."