Stubbing out smoking litter
31 MAY 2007
THE countdown continues to England becoming smoke free on
1 July 2007 and as Harrogate Borough Council's Public Protection Division continues its work with businesses to help them be prepared, staff in the Street Cleansing Team are turning their thoughts to the possible increase in smoking litter.
The Government has provided funding for local councils to help publicise the smoke free legislation and some of this money has been used to purchase promotional litterbins for the district's busiest streets.
Street cleansing staff will also be giving away 5000 personal and portable ashtrays.
This is part of a promotion to persuade smokers to dispose of their smoking litter in a responsible manner as well as spreading the message about giving up the habit.
Councillor Richard Cooper, Cabinet Member for the Environment, says
"We are keen to prevent more litter on our streets as a result of the change in the law.
The council can only pick litter up the responsibility lies with all of us to ensure that litter is disposed of correctly and doesn't blight our streets.
This is why we are encouraging those who continue smoking after 1 July to use portable ashtrays."
"The council is also working with the National Health Service to offer help and assistance to smokers who want to give up.
I, for one, am stubbing out my last cigarette on 30 June and hope, after 16 years, to finally kick the habit."
Earlier surveys show that most people are happy to use the stubbing out plate on public litterbins, but others were concerned that they may set them on fire.
The council has responded by replacing bins in the worst litter areas with bins specially designed to safely take discarded cigarettes.
ENDS
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: 10.00 am on Tuesday, 5 June 2007 Oxford Street, Harrogate (meet at rear entrance to Woolworths).
Mandie Peters, the council's Street Cleansing Monitoring Officer, will be assisted by BIG CIG as they hand out portable ashtrays.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Councillor Richard Cooper is available for comment on 01423 856564.
Further technical information is available from Mrs Nicky Garside, Head of Public Protection on 01423
NOTE TO EDITORS:
From 1 July 2007, virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces in England will have to become smoke free.
The aim of the law is to reduce the risk to health from exposure to second hand smoke, recognise a person's rights to be protected from harm and enjoy smoke free air and save lives by reducing smoking rates.