South Kesteven District Council has installed one of the bright yellow bins in Grantham Market Place encouraging smokers to dispose of their cigarette ends in an environmentally friendly way and have a bit of fun at the same time.
The bin displays a question and two possible replies. Smokers vote by putting their cigarette ends in the slot beneath their preferred answer. The litter stacks up in two columns behind a clear glass front showing which answer is more popular. It was a resounding ‘no’ on the first question: Pineapple on pizza – yes or no?
The question is changed regularly, and, after the weekend’s incredible sporting excitement, the next vote may be a little closer: Best summer sport – tennis or cricket?
“There’s no doubt the ballot bin has had an impact,” said SKDC’s Cabinet Member for Commercial and Operations, Cllr Dr Peter Moseley.
“It’s a light-hearted approach to what is a serious problem because smoking-related litter is the most common form of litter in the district.”
Most of SKDC’s on-the-spot littering fines are issued to people dropping cigarette ends. Income from £100 fixed penalty notices goes towards the cost of maintaining the district’s higher street standards.
Cllr Dr Moseley said: “We have pledged to crack down on littering and other anti-social behaviour that can blight our communities. People who drop cigarette butts, or any other kind of litter, risk a significant financial penalty.”
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