For Immediate Release
Contact: Name (Note: Highlighted text should be tailored to local program)
Organization
Phone
Keep (City) Beautiful Sets Sights on Cigarette Butt Litter
Cigarette Litter Prevention Program to Launch Locally
(City, State) (Date, 2012) – Keep (City) Beautiful will take part in a national program to reduce the impact of cigarette butt litter, the Keep America BeautifulCigarette Litter Prevention Program. In its
first year, Keep (City) Beautiful will target cigarette butt litter throughout the one-mile, high-traffic area
of (Main and Oak Streets in downtown /or describe other venue, including roadway, beach, park, marina, college/university, tourist spot, or special event) with a concentrated and sustained effort.
The program’s strategic approach involves all stakeholders in the cigarette litter problem, including businesses, law enforcement, local governments, community organizations and, importantly, smokers themselves. Mayors and community leaders nationwide are increasingly seeking solutions to the litter issue.
The Keep America Beautiful Cigarette Litter Prevention Program tackles the issue by integrating four
proven approaches:
; encouraging enforcement of litter laws, including cigarette litter;
; raising awareness about the issue using public service messages;
; placing ash receptacles at transition points such as near entrances to public buildings; and
; distributing pocket ashtrays to adult smokers.
In 2011, there were 252 grant-supported implementations across the country including downtowns, roadways, beaches, parks, marinas, colleges/universities, tourist spots, and at special events. The communities reported an average 54 percent reduction in littered butts as a result of implementing the program. (If a repeat or expanded program, include Keep (City) Beautiful prior years’ local results.)
<<insert quote from local program director - sample provided>>”The cigarette litter prevention program
has proven effective. Simple actions like installing ash receptacles and distributing pocket ashtrays have made a big difference in decreasing litter and ultimately keeping communities beautiful,” said project leader, (Name). “Using this program to bring attention to the issue, we expect similar reductions in (city).”
Tobacco products, including cigarette butts, are the most-littered item in America, representing nearly 38 percent of all items, according to “Litter in America,” the Keep America Beautifullandmark 2009
study of litter and littering behavior. This research also showed that individuals who would never litter items such as beverage cans or paper packaging may not consider tossing cigarette butts on the ground “littering”.
Local businesses and organizations are also supporting the effort. <<Include listing of local stakeholders>>
[IF A REPEAT YEAR:] This is the (number) year for (City)’s participation. The city/county continues to find the program a valuable tool for changing behavior and educating the community on litter prevention and the facts about cigarette butt litter.
National nonprofit Keep America Beautiful has field-tested and expanded the Cigarette Litter
Prevention Program since 2003, funded by Philip Morris USA, an Altria company, and with additional support from RAI Services Company. Information about starting and maintaining a community Cigarette
Litter Prevention Program is available online. The “Guide to Cigarette Litter Prevention” can be accessed through the Keep America Beautiful Web site www.kab.org or directly at
www.preventcigarettelitter.org.
About Local Organization/Keep XXX Beautiful
About Keep America Beautiful, Inc.
Keep America Beautiful, Inc., established in 1953, is the nation's largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. With a network of over 1,200 affiliate and participating organizations, Keep America Beautiful forms public-private partnerships and programs that engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environments. To learn more about Keep America Beautiful, go to www.kab.org.
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For Immediate Release
Contact: Name (Note: Highlighted text should be tailored to local program)
Organization
Phone
Keep (City) Beautiful Achieves XX% Reduction in Cigarette Litter
Efforts target the most commonly-littered item in America, cigarette butts
(City, State) (Date, 2012) – Results of the (CITY NAME) Cigarette Litter Prevention Program were
reported this week following cigarette litter scans on local streets or other venue/program location, as ? part of the Keep America BeautifulCigarette Litter Prevention Program. In its first year, Keep (City)
Beautiful noted a XX% reduction in cigarette butt litter throughout the one-mile, high-traffic area of
Main and Oak Streets in downtown/or describe other venue, including roadway, beach, park, marina,
college/university, tourist spot, or special event.
<<insert quote from local program director - sample provided>> “The program is helping us make drastic
improvements in our efforts to curb litter. Simple actions like installing ash receptacles and distributing pocket ashtrays have made a big difference in decreasing (city)’s litter and ultimately keeping our community beautiful,” said project leader, (Name). “While there is still work to be done, I’m proud to say we have seen significant reductions in cigarette litter on our city streets and sidewalks [or other locations within the venue, such as beaches, parks, roadways, etc.]”
Tobacco products, including cigarette butts, are the most-littered item in America, representing nearly ?38 percent of all items, according to “Litter in America,” the Keep America Beautiful landmark 2009
study of litter and littering behavior.
The (city) research team conducted an initial scan, or count of littered cigarette butts, before launching the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program earlier this summer/or other time frame. Keep (City) Beautiful
surveyed the two-mile radius of Main and Oak Streets, a popular and active area/or other venue that
includes numerous “transition points” – places where people must stop smoking before proceeding.
These points can include bus stops, outside retail and office buildings, before entering beaches and parks, and at roadside rest areas.
The program launch included public education messaging that a cigarette butt not properly disposed is litter; the distribution of free pocket ashtrays to adult smokers; and the installation of ash receptacles in the program area. After completing a follow up scan (a recount of littered cigarette butts) in the program area, the research team was able to determine the difference this litter prevention program makes in reducing cigarette butt litter.
A team of community stakeholders who are passionate about (City)’s cleanliness and beauty worked
together to conduct the necessary research. The team included (LIST business leaders/media/mayor).
“We’re proud to be able to contribute to this great program and do a little bit in our backyard that could go a long way towards protecting the environment,” (NAME of local store owner/government official)
remarked.
[IF A REPEAT YEAR:] This is the (number) year for (City)’s participation. The city/county continues to find the program a valuable tool for educating its community on litter prevention and the facts about cigarette litter.
?National nonprofit Keep America Beautiful has field-tested and expanded the Cigarette Litter
Prevention Program since 2003, funded by Philip Morris USA, an Altria company, and with additional support from RAI Services Company. Nationwide, more than 250 communities participated in the program in 2011 and achieved an average reduction in cigarette butt litter of 54 percent.
?The Keep America Beautiful Cigarette Litter Prevention Program addresses the issue by integrating
four proven approaches:
; encouraging enforcement of litter laws that include cigarette litter;
; raising awareness about the issue using public service messages;
; placing ash receptacles at transition points such as near entrances to public buildings; and
; distributing pocket ashtrays to adult smokers.
Information about starting and maintaining a community Cigarette Litter Prevention Program is
available online. The “Guide to Cigarette Litter Prevention” can be accessed through the Keep America ?Beautiful Web site www.kab.org or directly at www.preventcigarettelitter.org.
About Local Organization/Keep XXX Beautiful
About Keep America Beautiful, Inc.
Keep America Beautiful, Inc., established in 1953, is the nation's largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. With a network of over 1,200 affiliate and participating organizations, Keep America Beautiful forms public-private partnerships and programs that engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environments. To learn more about Keep America Beautiful, go to www.kab.org.
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