Cigarette Pilot a Success: Edmontonians Put Their Butts in the Cans
October 15, 2009
There are fewer cigarette butts on Jasper and Whyte Avenue thanks to two City pilots and the cooperation of Edmontonians.
“We wanted to make it easier for Edmonton smokers to safely and easily dispose of their cigarette butts.” said Don Belanger, program manager, Capital City Clean Up. “Edmontonians responded by taking responsibility for their cigarette litter and using the ashtrays, and there has been a measurable decline of cigarette butt litter within both pilot areas. We’re pleased with the results.”
The City measured the pilots’ effectiveness by tracking the amount of cigarette butts collected from the ashtrays and by monitoring the amount of cigarette butts on the streets at various locations. Results showed an 87 per cent reduction of litter at monitored sites on Jasper Avenue, while ashtray use more than doubled between the start and finish of the pilots.
During the pilots, a public education campaign coincided with the installation of 122 ashtrays on Jasper Avenue and 70 ashtrays on Whyte Avenue. The City also conducted a litter enforcement campaign along Jasper Avenue in late August. Four $250 tickets were issued.
“The goal of the pilots was to get people complying with the City’s litter bylaws, and it looks like people got the message that littering, including dropping cigarette butts, is not acceptable,” said John Wilson, director of complaints and investigations, Community Standards Branch. “We’re really happy to see that there are effective strategies we can use to change people’s behaviour.”
The City conducted these pilots as part of ongoing efforts to make Edmonton safer and more livable. A 2007 litter audit showed that cigarette butts comprised almost 35 per cent of all small litter on Edmonton streets. Though a made-in-Edmonton approach to address cigarette litter, the pilots were based in part on Keep America Beautiful, a program that has successfully reduced cigarette litter in many U.S. municipalities and included a mix of public education, supports like street ashtrays and enforcement.
Health Canada, the Downtown Business Association, Building Owners and Managers Assocation and the Old Strathcona Business Association partnered with the City on the initiatives.
“I thought that the cigarette litter ashtrays mounted on utility poles would be a good idea but I must say that I’m absolutely amazed at the number of times I see them used as I walk along Jasper Avenue,” said Jim Taylor, executive director, Downtown Business Association. “I think the pilots show that most Edmontonians, whether smokers or not, do not want to litter, and will use litter receptacles if given the opportunity.”
The City is following up on the pilots with more public education this fall.
For more information:
Don Belanger
| Title | Program Manager, Capital City Clean Up |
|---|---|
| Telephone | 780-914-9677 (cell) |
John Wilson
Planning and Development
| Title | Director of Complaints and Investigations, Community Standards Branch |
|---|---|
| Telephone | 780-496-5216 |
