Cigarette Litter was the #1 item
            picked up last year in the
               International Coastal Cleanup!!
Cigarette Litter Prevention Program
                                                                                                                  
The Facts...
Research shows that individuals who would never consider
littering an aluminum can, a piece of paper or other items may
be littering cigarette butts. They may be surprised to be called
litterers. But dropping partially-smoked cigarettes, cigarette
butts, matches, lighters and packaging to the ground is
littering. These items become litter when not disposed of
properly. Cigarette litter is an emerging litter problem in
communities around the country. Lack of awareness, lack of
ash receptacles, and the increase of outdoor smoking add to
the visible impact of cigarette litter.

Research shows that smokers will litter cigarette butts,
lighters, matches and packaging material if an ash receptacle
is not readily available. Cigarette litter occurs most often at
Transition Points. Transition Points are those places where a
person must discontinue smoking before proceeding. A bus
stop, a store entrance, building loading docks, walkways
leading to government buildings and similar places are the
Transition Points in a neighborhood.

Keep America Beautiful's Cigarette Litter Prevention Program
has been developed and field tested over a five-year period. In
recent implementations, the program resulted in an average
55% reduction in cigarette butt litter in the areas where it was
tested. The Guide to the program is designed for community,
municipal and business leaders seeking to reduce the impact
of cigarette butt litter. The Guide, including resources,
background information, and step-by-step guidance is now
online at http://preventcigarettelitter.org/.

If you would like to make a difference in Charlotte County,
contact Glenda at keepcharbeautiful@charlottefl.com.
Gilcrist Park
Gilcrist
Park
Tired of picking
up cigarette
butts? Find out
how you can
be one of the
first to take a
positive step
toward taking
Cigarette litter
out of the # 1
position!
Stump Pass
Bay Shore Heights Park
El JoBean Fishing Pier
Charlotte Harbor
Preserve
Ponce
De Leon
Park