9 June
2006 - The Australian Government Minister for
the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell,
will press for a national no-butts day to tackle
the growing problem of cigarette butt litter.
“Australians discard about 32
million butts each year. Many of these end up
in the environment - to a point where they now
contribute to almost half of Australia’s litter,”
Senator Campbell said.
“Just because they’re small,
doesn’t mean they’re harmless. Discarded butts
leach toxic chemicals such as cadmium, lead and
zinc into our soil and waterways when they break
down.
“This is not acceptable. If
you smoke – do the right thing. Take responsibility
for the correct disposal of your butts. Put them
in bins, not on the roads and footpaths, the bush
or roadsides. It’s just not on.”
Senator Campbell said he would
argue the merits of a national crackdown when
he met with State and Territory environment ministers
at the Environment Protection and Heritage Council
(EPHC) in Sydney on June 23.
“A national day would increase
public awareness of the problem and help achieve
the main change needed – that is, smokers’ behaviour,”
he said.
“Some authorities are already taking action to
reduce the butt problem.
“The City of Sydney, for example,
has been active lately in enforcing fines and
warnings for butt litterers, but there seems to
be a general reluctance around the country to
enforce penalties.
“Smokers are entitled to smoke
in permitted places, but they have to accept responsibility
for disposing of butts properly – not drop them
on footpaths or flick them out of car windows.”
Senator Campbell said entrances
to airports were among the dirtiest and most unsightly
places for cigarette butts. “It’s not only the
litter and general dirty look, but passing through
clouds of smoke, particularly at airports, sends
all the wrong messages about Australia as a clean,
healthy country.”
