Smoke-ban inflames English litter problem

20 September 2007
 
England’s streets have been worst hit by an increase in smoking litter following the ban, compared with Wales and Northern Ireland, with 83% of local authorities reporting a rise in littered cigarette butts.

Out of the three bans on smoking in public places introduced this year – Wales and Northern Ireland in April, and England in July – England’s have streets ‘borne the brunt’ of the litter problem, with a 43% rise in the amount of cigarette butts dropped on pavements.

The figures have been produced by Encams, the charity which runs the Keep Britain Tidy campaign. It adds that the figures reveal a seven-times increase in the amount of other smoking-related litter, including packets, films and matches, since going smoke free.

The worst-hit areas, unsurprisingly, are towns and cities, where most premises affected by the ban are located. A recent Encams survey found that 98% of councils responding felt they had a problem with smoking litter, with 83% reporting an increase since the ban. This gloomy picture chimes with predictions from the Local Government Association that cigarette litter would rise as a result of the ban. Complaints from the public have also risen.

Ginette Unsworth, senior marketing manager of Encams, said: ‘With England being the last country in the UK to bring the ban in, it had the benefit of hindsight. It knew the problems encountered by other nations. ‘If this had been exploited further, the level of cigarette letter might not be in such a sorry state.’ The charity launched a campaign on Monday involving 10 councils from across the country. It focuses on education and enforcement, with marketing material warning smokers they could be liable for an £80 fine if they don’t ‘bin their butts’.

www.encams.org

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