Media Release: 23 March 2009
The Butt Free City campaign kicks off around the country today, with people in the street being asked to "PLEASE BUTT IT, THEN BIN IT®" to help eliminate impacts of cigarette butt littering on Australia's bays, rivers, lakes and beaches.
"Our biggest challenge is that most people don't make the connection between where they drop their butt and where it ends up," says Wendy Jones, Executive Director of the Butt Littering Trust. "If dropped on the street, one in ten times it ends up down the drain and into our waterways.
The negative impact they have on water quality and marine life is not known by most people", she adds "not to mention the huge costs associated with cleaning up the 7 billion butts littered every year in Australia. It costs local Councils alone in the tens of millions dollars."
Avid surfer and beach lover, Rhys Uhlich, winner of the Australian series of 'Make me a Supermodel' has thrown his support behind this year's campaign.
"Butts going into our waterways, it's just not on" said Uhlich. "I dislike them with a passion and they spoil everything I love about the beach. The fact that they make up around half of all litter in Australia makes me wonder if people that drop them ever stop and think where they end up.
The Butt Free City campaign is a great way to let people know about the impacts of butt litter, particularly on our beaches and waterways and I'm really pleased to be involved" Uhlich said.
According to Jones, the need to manage cigarette butt litter has never been greater as a result of indoor smoking bans across Australia.
"There is no doubt in my mind that the problem has intensified as has the need for more butt litter bins to help manage it.
Cigarette butts don't just go away. The filters are made from a synthetic fibre and can take over 10 years to break down. They also leach toxic chemicals into soils and water - one butt can poison eight litres of water to a toxic level within hours," Jones added.
"Individually butts are only small, but together, 7 billion have a huge impact on our environment. The need to help people change their littering behaviour is vital" said Jones.
Butt Free City Educators will hit the streets over the week to talk to people about the impacts of butt litter and offer a pocket ashtray in return for a pledge to 'butt it, then bin it'. Collectively, the 16 capital and major regional cities across all states and territories participating the Butt Free City campaign, are looking to build upon the 21% reduction in butt littering achieved in 2008.
The last day of the Butt Free City campaign, Friday 27 March, is 'Butt litter? FINE!' Day. Council Officers nationally will be enforcing local litter laws, issuing fines to cigarette butt litterers. Fines vary from state to state, ranging from $50 - $150 for an extinguished butt and up to $300 for a lit butt.
The Butt Littering Trust is an independent environmental organisation established to help local government, businesses and the community manage the problem of butt littering.
Media contacts:
- Wendy Jones, Butt Littering Trust Executive Director on 03 9898 0087, 0418 172 400 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
- PR: Lara Shannon Consulting, 03 9592 4001, 0415 076 015, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
