Butting out in the proper manner

THERE will be no “ifs”, “butts” and “maybes” about it!

Forty cigarette butt bins are to be rolled out in the Manawatu District over the next few weeks to encourage the appropriate disposal of butts in the Feilding CBD and surrounding regional areas.

Manawatu District Council and Keep New Zealand Beautiful are launching the “No Ifs, Butts or Maybes” campaign in an attempt to rid footpaths, roads and waterways of cigarette butts.

Manawatu District Mayor, Ian McKelvie, will officially launch the campaign at the council chamber on Wednesday, June 1.

Members of Keep Feilding Beautiful and Keep Rongotea Beautiful will also take to the streets from Wednesday to Friday making smokers aware of the new trend in town and encouraging them to “do the right thing”.

KNZB National Programmes Manager, Mary Brown, said smokers often contributed to a massive litter problem by dropping or flicking their butts and severely degrading the look and feel of the environment.

Disposing of cigarette butts in normal litter bins was dangerous, she said, so a simple and effective solution had been implemented to avert unsightly cigarette butts being needlessly discarded.

“We hope that smokers will respond positively and dispose of their cigarette butts more responsibly, resulting in a reduction of cigarette butts on our streets and in storm-water drains and the environment,” said Ms Brown.

Parks and Reserves Manager, Albert James, said smokers not having anywhere to put their butts highlighted the extent of the problem.

“They can’t throw them into the rubbish bins, because they could set them alight, so they tend to throw them on the ground or in the gardens ... and the town gardeners can certainly tell you where the high discard places are.”

Mr James said the stainless steel receptacles were designed to stand out and last a long time and would be positioned in the worst problem areas first.

He said the national initiative was welcomed in Feilding, which prided itself on claiming New Zealand’s “Most Beautiful Town” award on 14 occasions.