Smoking ban prompts litter fears | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua
Smoking ban prompts litter fears
Keep Rotorua Beautiful co-ordinator Christine Findon.PICTURE: TRACEY ROBINSON (171104tr4)
By ALISON BROWN in Rotorua
It is feared a new law forcing smokers on to the streets could threaten Rotorua's reputation as one of the country's most beautiful cities.
Keep Rotorua Beautiful and the Rotorua District Council are bracing themselves for an increase in litter around the city centre from December 10 when the law banning smoking in pubs and clubs comes into effect.
Under the legislation, smokers will have to go outside to light up but it is feared that unless suitable disposal bins are provided by licensees, cigarette butts will litter the streets, creating an unsightly mess for locals and tourists.
It is estimated more than 700,000 million cigarette butts are already carelessly thrown away in New Zealand every year and Keep Rotorua Beautiful co-ordinator Christine Findon is worried that figure could skyrocket unless smokers become more responsible for their own litter.
"If you are a smoker, please think about the impact throwing your butts on the ground will have," she said.
"Contrary to popular belief, butts are not biodegradable.
"They are made of acetate and never fully breakdown."
Mrs Findon said toxic chemicals from cigarette butts were commonly flushed into the lakes by wind and rain, further threatening their water quality.
"Our lakes are in bad health now. Cigarette butts will make it worse."
She claims filters from cigarettes have been found in the stomachs of fish, birds, whales and other marine animals which have mistaken them for food.
"Most people know littering is wrong but smokers somehow think littering cigarettes is acceptable. It is not."
Rotorua's City Focus manager Dennis Olliver is responsible for the city's street cleaners. He is hoping all the fuss being made about the law change and its impact on the environment will come to nothing - but is not holding his breath.
"Everyone's got to be responsible. The bar owners are going to have to bite the bullet and look after the entrances to their premises and we'll continue to play our part."
Teams of cleaners start hitting the central city streets at 2am every Saturday and Sunday morning, after the first late bars close.
Litter from cigarette butts is only a minor problem. On busy mornings, Mr Olliver said it was common for cleaners to come across all sorts of rubbish including vomit, excrement, urine and discarded condoms.
Currently, about 20 litter bins specifically for cigarette butts are positioned around the city centre and lakefront. Mr Olliver said it was possible more would be erected.
As a result of the law change, Auckland-based company Environmental Solutions set up shop three months ago to supply the country's councils, clubs and bars with new-model disposal bins for cigarette butts.
The most popular option is a wall-mounted unit which cleaners can empty with a key - without having to touch the contents, said sales director John Triggs.
See today's Daily post for a street poll and editorial on the new smoking ban
It is feared a new law forcing smokers on to the streets could threaten Rotorua's reputation as one of the country's most beautiful cities.
Keep Rotorua Beautiful and the Rotorua District Council are bracing themselves for an increase in litter around the city centre from December 10 when the law banning smoking in pubs and clubs comes into effect.
Under the legislation, smokers will have to go outside to light up but it is feared that unless suitable disposal bins are provided by licensees, cigarette butts will litter the streets, creating an unsightly mess for locals and tourists.
It is estimated more than 700,000 million cigarette butts are already carelessly thrown away in New Zealand every year and Keep Rotorua Beautiful co-ordinator Christine Findon is worried that figure could skyrocket unless smokers become more responsible for their own litter.
"If you are a smoker, please think about the impact throwing your butts on the ground will have," she said.
"Contrary to popular belief, butts are not biodegradable.
"They are made of acetate and never fully breakdown."
Mrs Findon said toxic chemicals from cigarette butts were commonly flushed into the lakes by wind and rain, further threatening their water quality.
"Our lakes are in bad health now. Cigarette butts will make it worse."
She claims filters from cigarettes have been found in the stomachs of fish, birds, whales and other marine animals which have mistaken them for food.
"Most people know littering is wrong but smokers somehow think littering cigarettes is acceptable. It is not."
Rotorua's City Focus manager Dennis Olliver is responsible for the city's street cleaners. He is hoping all the fuss being made about the law change and its impact on the environment will come to nothing - but is not holding his breath.
"Everyone's got to be responsible. The bar owners are going to have to bite the bullet and look after the entrances to their premises and we'll continue to play our part."
Teams of cleaners start hitting the central city streets at 2am every Saturday and Sunday morning, after the first late bars close.
Litter from cigarette butts is only a minor problem. On busy mornings, Mr Olliver said it was common for cleaners to come across all sorts of rubbish including vomit, excrement, urine and discarded condoms.
Currently, about 20 litter bins specifically for cigarette butts are positioned around the city centre and lakefront. Mr Olliver said it was possible more would be erected.
As a result of the law change, Auckland-based company Environmental Solutions set up shop three months ago to supply the country's councils, clubs and bars with new-model disposal bins for cigarette butts.
The most popular option is a wall-mounted unit which cleaners can empty with a key - without having to touch the contents, said sales director John Triggs.
Email
Print