This summer, the City is helping Edmonton smokers reduce their ecological footprint by properly disposing of their cigarette butts.
edmonton1“We believe that most smokers will act responsibly when given the facts and provided with the necessary tools like public ashtrays,” said Councillor Jane Batty. “Reducing cigarette litter is a shared responsibility. The City wants to work with all Edmontonians, including smokers, to keep our City clean.”
The City announced two pilot projects that will take place on Jasper Avenue and Whyte Avenue and will test a number of strategies for reducing cigarette litter. Both pilots include the installation of street ashtrays, onsite signage and an extensive public education campaign. The City will also deploy street teams on Jasper and Whyte to distribute personal pocket ashtrays that smokers can carry with them.
The pilot projects’ overall message to smokers is simple: Do your part. Use an ashtray. The City will also remind Edmontonians that the fine for littering, including cigarette butts, is $250.
“Cigarettes butts are one the most littered items in Edmonton,” said Don Belanger, program manager, Capital City Clean Up. “The City recognizes it has not been easy for smokers to responsibly dispose of their cigarette butts without public ashtrays. These pilots will address the issue by giving smokers a way to safely and easily butt out their cigarettes.”
The Downtown Business Association, Building Owners and Managers Association and Health Canada have partnered with Capital City Clean Up on the Jasper Avenue pilot project. The Old Strathcona Business Association is working with Responsibility Hospitality Edmonton on the Whyte Avenue initiative.
Health Canada reminds all Edmonton smokers that quitting is good for their health and that help is available at no cost for those who want to kick the habit.
Tobacco is an annual or bi-annual growing 1-3 meters tall with large sticky leaves that contain nicotine. Native to the Americas, tobacco has a long history of use as a shamanic inebriant and stimulant. It is extremely popular and well-known for its addictive potential.
Nicotiana rustica leaves.
Nicotiana rustica leaves have a nicotine content as high as 9%, whereas Nicotiana tabacum (common tobacco) leaves contain about 1 to 3%
A cigar is a tightly rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco which is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the mouth. Cigar tobacco is grown in significant quantities in Brazil, Cameroon, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Sumatra, Philippines, and the Eastern United States.
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the fresh leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as an organic pesticide, and in the form of nicotine tartrate it is used in some medicines. In consumption it may be in the form of cigarettes smoking, snuffing, chewing, dipping tobacco, or snus.
