Talking Points on Cigarette Litter

Only 10% of cigarette butts are deposited in litter receptacles.

Most cigarette littering occurs in and around transition points – areas where a smoker must extinguish a cigarette before proceeding.

There are 4 strategies for Preventing cigarette litter:
Enforcing Local Anti-Litter Laws
Installing Ash Receptacles
Encouraging the Use of Pocket Ashtrays
Changing Behavior Through Public Education

There are 5 Steps to Designing a Prevention Plan for Your Community
Assess the Problem – Review local litter laws, select a pilot neighborhood, conduct a survey and identify transition points
Organize a Team – Gather team members, prepare a budget
Implement Prevention Strategies – Anti-litter law enforcement, place ash receptacles at transition points, hand out pocket ashtrays and begin a public awareness campaign that includes signs, psa’s and brochures

Cigarette Talking Points (pdf download)