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Bin your Butts

Smoking Related Waste

Bin Your Butts - smoking related waste is litter!

If you stub out your cigarette (or cigar or roll-up) in a public place and do not pick up the butt, you are committing a criminal offence by littering. The same goes if you flick the butt out of the car window or simply drop it on the pavement after you have finished smoking.

There are still too many people who may, these days, think twice about dropping a drinks can or takeaway carton on the ground, but still think it is acceptable to flick their butts out of the car window.

Smoking-related waste is litter and the Council has zero tolerance for it.

How is the Council dealing with smoking-related waste?

Under the 1990 Environmental Protection Act, it is an offence to cause littering.

There are many legal definitions of litter but, generally, it is waste that has been unlawfully abandoned or scattered in a public place.

Those who drop their cigarette butts or throw them from cars will be prosecuted in exactly the same way as those who refuse to use litter bins or dog-waste bins.

If you are seen to drop litter the Council will, under the Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act of 2005, issue you with a £100 fixed penalty notice.