Council wardens putting the heat on cigarette litter louts
A year on from the smoking ban and cigarette litter continues to be a problem on the streets of Edinburgh.
Recent research conducted in Edinburgh showed that 84 per cent of people surveyed agreed that cigarette ends were litter.
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The city’s Environmental Wardens agree and are just as likely to issue a £50 fixed penalty notice for dropping a cigarette as any other type of litter.
Research also showed that cigarette litter was shown to be the second biggest litter issue in the city centre (fast food was perceived as the worst overall).
The Keep Edinburgh Clean campaign has been working hard to highlight this problem and to change smokers’ behaviour.
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The ‘Aye Butt, Nae Butt’ campaign was launched at the end of last year and features piles of cigarettes strewn on city streets, with the threat of a fine if caught.
The advertising campaign targets smokers via a number of outdoor sites including bus and bus shelter adverts, billboards and ashtrays outside pubs and clubs.
In addition, new ashtray tops are being fitted to existing bins to replace stubber plates, making it easier to dispose of cigarettes in city centre bins without the risk of fire.