Education is an important element of any butt litter reduction program. Getting the message across to both those who litter and the wider community – especially the environmental aspects of butt littering – is an important step in changing behaviour.
Community-based social marketing theory considers face-to-face education to be the most effective method of encouraging behavioural change.
Face-to-face education raises awareness of the social, environmental and economic impacts of butt littering in a positive way, without being confrontational.
It also provides the opportunity to ask for a commitment or pledge to PLEASE BUTT IT, THEN BIN IT®, Butt Free Australia's call to action.
Educational face-to-face engagements that elicit this public pledge or promise, whether written or verbal, are likely to be more successful in achieving behavioural change than education alone.
Educators who 'know their stuff', have good communication skills and present in a friendly, positive, non-confronting manner are the most effective.
The Butt FREE Toolkit offers valuable information about sourcing educators, how to train them and ways of engaging the target audience so that messages are delivered efficiently and with conviction.
