Pendle Borough Council is launching a new initiative to encourage residents to dispose of their litter properly, with a focus on cigarette butts. The council is celebrating its 50th anniversary and is highlighting the importance of taking pride in the borough. Cigarette butts are the single most littered item, and it can take up to 14 years for them to break apart, harming wildlife and polluting the environment.
The council’s assistant director of operational services, David Walker, emphasized that there is no excuse for not disposing of cigarette butts correctly, as there are plenty of litter bins available throughout the borough. “We provide plenty of litter bins throughout the borough, so there should be no excuse for not using one when getting rid of your cigarette butt or other waste when on the go,” he said. The council has also carried out campaigns in the past to tackle fly-tipping and chewing gum litter, and is now backing Keep Britain Tidy’s campaign to bin cigarette butts.
Portfolio holder for environment and climate change, Cllr Zafar Ali, highlighted the devastating environmental damage caused by cigarette butts, which make up 66% of all littered items. “Cigarette butts make up an astonishing 66% of all littered items and cause devastating environmental damage,” he said. “They are made of plastic and do not biodegrade; therefore, over time, they break apart into microplastics and seep toxins into the earth and our waterways.”
Cllr Ali also pointed out that the problem of cigarette butt litter is not just a local issue, but a national one. “When you consider that nearly three million cigarette butts are littered in the UK every day, you can start to understand what a big issue this is,” he said. The council is urging residents to take action and dispose of their cigarette butts properly, and is providing education and awareness campaigns to help people understand the importance of doing so.
The council is also working with local businesses and community groups to raise awareness about the issue of cigarette butt litter. “We are working with local businesses and community groups to raise awareness about the issue of cigarette butt litter and to encourage people to take action to reduce it,” said Cllr Ali. “We believe that by working together, we can make a real difference and keep our borough clean and beautiful.”
In addition to the education and awareness campaigns, the council is also taking practical steps to reduce cigarette butt litter. For example, the council is installing new litter bins and increasing the number of bins in high-risk areas. The council is also working with local schools to educate children about the importance of disposing of cigarette butts properly.
The council is also providing resources and support to residents who want to take action to reduce cigarette butt litter. For example, the council is providing free cigarette butt recycling bins to residents who want to recycle their cigarette butts. The council is also working with local community groups to organize clean-up events and other activities to help reduce cigarette butt litter.
Furthermore, the council is also working with local authorities and organizations to develop a comprehensive strategy to tackle the issue of cigarette butt litter. “We are working with local authorities and organizations to develop a comprehensive strategy to tackle the issue of cigarette butt litter and to ensure that we are doing everything we can to reduce it,” said Cllr Ali.
The council is also encouraging residents to report any instances of cigarette butt litter to the council. “We are encouraging residents to report any instances of cigarette butt litter to the council, so that we can take action to clean it up and prevent it from happening again,” said Cllr Ali.
In conclusion, the council’s initiative to reduce cigarette butt litter is an important step towards keeping the borough clean and beautiful. The council is working hard to educate residents about the importance of disposing of cigarette butts properly, and is taking practical steps to reduce the problem. The council is also providing resources and support to residents who want to take action to reduce cigarette butt litter. By working together, the council believes that it can make a real difference and keep the borough clean and beautiful for generations to come.
The council is also planning to launch a social media campaign to raise awareness about the issue of cigarette butt litter. “We are planning to launch a social media campaign to raise awareness about the issue of cigarette butt litter and to encourage people to take action to reduce it,” said Cllr Ali. “We believe that social media is a powerful tool that can help us reach a wider audience and make a bigger impact.”
The council is also planning to work with local schools to develop a curriculum that includes education about the importance of disposing of cigarette butts properly. “We are planning to work with local schools to develop a curriculum that includes education about the importance of disposing of cigarette butts properly,” said Cllr Ali. “We believe that educating children about this issue is crucial to ensuring that we can reduce cigarette butt litter in the long term.”
Overall, the council is committed to reducing cigarette butt litter and keeping the borough clean and beautiful. The council is working hard to educate residents about the importance of disposing of cigarette butts properly, and is taking practical steps to reduce the problem. The council is also providing resources and support to residents who want to take action to reduce cigarette butt litter. By working together, the council believes that it can make a real difference and keep the borough clean and beautiful for generations to come.