Last Updated: 24-Apr-08 09:10

News Release from Keep Britain Tidy, Tuesday 8th April 2008

The world`s biggest cigarette butt has been `dumped` in Trafalgar Square to highlight what`s become the country`s biggest litter problem.

With cigarette related litter on 78% of the country`s streets, Keep Britain Tidy is launching its most aggressive advertising campaign against people who drop their butts on our streets.

According to Keep Britain Tidy, since the ban on smoking in public places came in last July, we are literally swimming in a sea of cig butts.
 

And as the number of cig ends continues to soar, Keep Britain Tidy`s chief executive, Phil Barton has gone on the offensive:

`Since the smoking ban was brought in nine months ago, the number of discarded butts on our streets has soared. We applaud the cigarette ban as it has made our pubs and restaurants more pleasant environments to be in. But unfortunately we are now seeing an epidemic of smoking related litter on our streets.

`The message is clear: dumping fag stubs on the ground is disgusting and people responsible will face fines.`

On Tuesday 8 April, Keep Britain Tidy will launch its biggest ever anti-smoking litter campaign:

- Thirteen councils from across the country are campaign partners and will be quick to issue on-the-spot fines to anyone caught chucking their cig.

- 10,000 posters and banners will go up across the country warning `Dirty Chuckers` of £80 fines. These will appear in bus shelters, phone boxes, pub toilets and lampposts.

- 50,000 beer mats will go to pubs across the land to highlight the problem.

Phil added: `Throughout April our local authority partners will step up their efforts to issue on-the-spot fines to smokers who dump their stubs on the streets rather than use bins provided. Now is the time for smokers to change the dirty habit which is staining our streets, particularly in town and city centres. Almost half the councils in England have received serious complaints from the public and this is simply not acceptable.`

The campaign is also backed by portable ashtray, Ashcan, available at Tesco, just one of the many solutions available in the UK. For further information, please email press@encams.org