Smokers in the Braintree District are being urged not to litter the streets with their cigarette butts, by carrying their own personal ashtrays.

“An increasing number of smokers are smoking outdoors with limited places to discard their butts.  They often don’t see dropping a butt as littering.  Research shows that 80% of smokers would use portable ashtrays if they were available.  Personal ashtrays are a way in which smokers can help the Districts environment…  They could even avoid being prosecuted and facing a £75 fine.  We have a number of prosecutions pending for people who are alleged to have dropped litter and the majority of those involve cigarette butts.”

The campaign will launch on the 2nd June in Braintree Town Centre.  Promotions staff will be handing out portable ashtrays to remind people to dispose of their cigerette butts responsibly.

Be sure to spot the promotions staff in the Braintree Carnival Procession on the 9th June 2007.

The portable ashtrays will be available from the launch site in Braintree on the 2nd June and Causeway House, Braintree.

Alternatively they can be purchased from Butts Out – www.buttsout.co.uk