Smokers are given portable ashtrays

David Bateman • Published 26 Jun 2009 14:00

SMOKERS in Inverclyde have given a mixed response to a bid to stub out litter using portable ashtrays.

Council bosses are handing out the three-inch long ashtrays free of charge, with smokers being urged to drop their cigarette ends into the containers if they can"t find a bin.

The "No Butts, It"s Litter" scheme is part of Inverclyde Council"s "Clean up or pay up" campaign, which will see enforcement wardens given the power to issue a fixed-penalty notice of £50 or more if they witness acts of littering, including cigarette ends being dropped.

The Tele took to the streets to gauge your views on the ashtrays - which come in blue, green and pink shades.

Sharri Muir, 23, of Gourock, said: 'I don"t think it"s a very good idea, I certainly don"t fancy it. On a night out it probably wouldn"t work very well and it could make your clothes stink. Although, I do agree with the fine.'

Sharon Traynor, 38, from Gourock, said 'They"re not very practical. I don"t think they will really stop people from littering because if you can"t be bothered to find a bin you probably won"t be bothered to get one of these.'

Dorothy McEwan, 65, of Port Glasgow, said: 'If there were more ashtrays around we wouldn"t need them. The colours don"t really appeal to me but I would probably use them to avoid the fine.'

Lizzie Doull, 18, from Greenock, said: 'It"s a good idea. When I am walking to work I sometimes can"t find anywhere to leave my cigarette so it will definitely help litter. I"ll probably use it myself.'

Non-smoker Laura Clamp, 22, of Greenock, said: 'When you see cigarettes lying around, its disgusting, so it"s a very good idea. The fine and ashtrays will hopefully stop people dropping them. They"re very dangerous to kids.'

Local authorities in Scotland spend £65 million each year cleaning up discarded butts.

Councillor Robert Moran, convener of the council"s safe communities committee, said: 'There is simply no excuse for it. It takes little or no effort to find a bin to deposit used butts and we have to get the message across that from now on it is unacceptable.

'Of course, we would ideally like them to give up smoking completely but for those who wish to smoke they have to understand they have a responsibility to the rest of us and the environment.'

Personal ashtrays are available free from Safer Communities, 40 West Stewart Street, Greenock. For more information, call 714200 or visit www.buttsout.net

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This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 26 Jun 09

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