Butting out cigarette trash
Clean St. John’s pilot project to begin next spring
Clean St. John’s, a nonprofit group dedicated to keeping the city free of litter, will begin tackling cigarette butts next spring.
The Zero Cigarette Butt Campaign will be piloted with cigarette butt receptacles placed throughout the downtown area. The project was expected to begin this year, but with COVID19 restrictions, it has been delayed until next year.
In the meantime, St.
John’s city council approved the placement of the receptacles throughout the downtown, including on the city’s decorative light poles, in a unanimous vote at its regular meeting on Monday.
Clean St. John’s will be responsible for servicing and maintaining the receptacles.
The initiative has support from both Downtown St. John’s and the George Street Association.
“I look forward to this program being launched in the downtown,” Downtown St. John’s executive director Scott Cluney wrote in a letter of support included in the city council agenda.
“Cigarette butt litter continues to be one of the biggest forms of litter in the downtown and hopefully your new campaign will work to address this issue.”
A letter from the George Street Association said it offers its full support to the campaign, which the association said is greatly needed.
“The legendary George Street Entertainment District
sees many visitors throughout the year, from locals visiting our pubs and restaurants to tourists coming great distances to see what this city, including the downtown core, has to offer. The cigarette butt initiative is one way we can ensure these visitors are able to take in the sights of George Street and all it has to offer without viewing cigarette butts as well,” reads a portion of the letter.