On Wednesday 19 October Waste Enforcement Officers will be in Menai Bridge, Anglesey taking action against people who drop smoking-related litter. “If we see people drop cigarette litter in any open-air public places in Menai Bridge on Wednesday they will be fined £75,” says Mike Rhodes, member of the Waste Management Team at the Isle of Anglesey County Council.
The town has become part of the ‘Please help to keep your streets butt free’ campaign being, undertaken by the Waste Management Team from the Isle of Anglesey County Council, to reduce street litter from smoking.
Dropping one cigarette stub may seem insignificant but it is part of a daily 122 tonne heavy weight litter problem across the UK. Cigarette filters are made from cellulose acetate a type of plastic which can take 12 years to break down.
“When we asked for the opinions of people in Menai Bridge last year, our survey proved, nobody likes litter in the street. We are asking smokers to be responsible for every cigarette butt and bin it. If you are caught dropping cigarette litter you will be issued with a fixed penalty notice,” said Mike Rhodes.
On Wednesday the Waste Management Team at the Isle of Anglesey County Council will be taking part in an ‘All Wales Enforcement Day’ to highlight and combat smoking-related litter. As Councils throughout Wales work together to deal with those who break the law and drop cigarette litter.
“We are very proud of our Town Centre having spent £500,000 recently on paving and new street furniture. It is very off putting to find discarded cigarette butts and chewing gum littering our streets. Our car parks and lay-bys are blighted by the disgusting habit of drivers emptying their car ashtrays on to the street, this must stop,” said Cllr Keith Evans, Cadnant Ward.
