Three Bags Full Sir – in Just Three Weeks!
THREE sacks full of cigarette ends were collected from a Charnwood town centre during a three-week environmental crackdown.
The mountain of cigarette ends was picked up in Loughborough during the first part of Charnwood Borough Council’s three-month Don’t Muck Around campaign which is also targeting dog fouling and fly-tipping.
Cigarette litter was collected by street cleansing teams operated by the Council’s waste management partner Serco.
Steve Bloor, Manager of McDonald’s in Loughborough town centre, said: “You almost become immune to the amount of cigarette ends you see in the town centre. But when you see it stacked up in three bin bags it really hits you.
“I had no idea that so many people dropped cigarette ends when there are plenty of bins and ashtrays – especially in a busy town centre like Loughborough.
“People don’t seem to realise that cigarette ends are litter and they can be fined £80 if they are caught.”
The award-winning campaign was launched on September 5 and included an aim to encourage businesses to sign a pledge to encourage their staff and customers to kick the habit. So far, more than 40 companies have signed up.
Councillor Jane Hunt, Charnwood Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Housing and Regulatory Services, said: “I’m really pleased to see so many businesses showing their support for the campaign and actively encouraging their staff to live healthier lifestyles and to bin cigarette litter if they are smokers.”
For more information about the campaign, visit www.charnwood.gov.uk/dontmuckaround2012, www.facebook.com/dontmuck, call 01509 634564 or email cleaner.greener@charnwood.gov.uk.
