NO BUTTS ABOUT IT, CIGARETTES ARE LITTER

The State Government and Keep Australia Beautiful Queensland today began a two-month campaign to highlight the hazards of carelessly dumped cigarette butts.

Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr and Ipswich City Council Mayor Paul Pisasale launched the Butt Stops Here campaign today at a community barbecue in Queens Park, Ipswich.

The campaign aims to reduce the amount of litter, particularly along highways, which accounts for 42 per cent of litter in Queensland.

Smokers will be targeted because cigarette butts make up more than 50 per cent of litter.

The campaign follows the State Government’s recent announcement it was considering fining drivers who had been caught throwing rubbish from their cars.

Ms Nelson-Carr said the focus would be on educating the public that cigarette butts were litter.

“There are no buts about it, people must realise cigarette butts damage the environment, are dangerous to wildlife and can result in loss of property and life.

“There have been several instances where a cigarette butt thrown from a car has started a bushfire which has destroyed houses, damaged our national parks and has even resulted in the death of emergency service personnel.

“Cigarette butts also pollute our waterways and are toxic to wildlife.

“They’ve been been found in the stomachs of young birds, sea turtles and other wildlife because they’ve been mistaken as food – but they aren’t good for digestion.

“This is a serious issue and smokers are urged to dispose of their cigarette butts responsibly, in their car ashtrays, cigarette bins or in portable ashtrays.”

The campaign targets Ipswich and the Sunshine Coast, and includes billboards, radio, bus and taxi advertising and distributing portable ashtrays.

Media contact: Andie Gatti 0439 781 886 or Karla Steen 3336 8004