Keep Jones Beautiful Takes on Cigarette Butt Litter

Source from:  jcnews.com by James Newberry 08/21/2008

Did you know that cigarette butts are the most littered item in America? Unlike most paper products, cigarette butts are non-biodegradable and may take years to disintegrate. Cigarette butt litter is unsightly, costly to clean up, and harmful to waterways and wildlife, according to Keep America Beautiful Inc. Since 2002, Keep America Beautiful and Philip Morris USA have implemented programs aimed at reducing cigarette litter throughout the nation. According to the Philip Morris Web site, participating communities in the United States number 180, and as of 2007, cigarette litter was down in the targeted areas by 54 percent. Recently, Keep Jones Beautiful Commission Director Judy Webb applied for a grant from the cigarette litter prevention program sponsored by Keep America Beautiful and funded by Philip Morris. "Our original grant was $1,500, and later we received another $500," Webb said. "We've used the money to buy ash receptacles and portable ashtrays." Over the past several weeks, Webb and other Commission members have surveyed the county, gathering cigarette butts from several key areas where the litter is most extreme. "We go around and pick up the cigarette butts and count them," Webb explained. "And later we distribute the new ash receptacles to the trouble areas." The program provides portable ashtrays to participants and passers-by in an effort to spread information about cigarette litter prevention. Last week Webb launched the cigarette litter prevention program in Jones County, distributing ash receptacles to the police station and government center. "We'll put out the receptacles and do follow-up surveys to see if they are working," Webb said. "We're really committed to this because it's a real problem and we want everyone to be aware." Other public offices or businesses in Jones County are asked to submit receptacle applications to the Keep Jones Beautiful Commission, located at the Chamber of Commerce, in the coming weeks. "Cleaning up littered cigarette butts will help the environment," Webb said. "And make our community more attractive." Enditem