Stamp out stubs on Fareham streets

Banning smoking in offices and other public places is becoming the norm, and this has resulted in the streets being one of the few places where smoking is permitted.  One unfortunate side effect of the ban on indoor smoking is the increase in cigarette litter on the streets and outside office buildings.

Throughout February and March, ENCAMS (this is an external hyperlink) - the company which runs the Keep Britain Tidy campaign, will be running a new campaign to tackle cigarette related litter.

According to ENCAMS (this is an external hyperlink) approximately 40 per cent of all litter is cigarette related with 122 tonnes of cigarette stubs and cigarette related litter dropped every day across the UK.  Cigarette stubs are made of plastic which can take up to two years to degrade and they contain up to 4,000 chemicals which are harmful to the environment.

Because cigarette stubs are not easy to pocket if a litterbin is not handy, Fareham Borough Council is recommending a small portable pouch, which acts as a pocket litterbin, as a good solution to the problem.  Not only are they fire resistant, they are airtight so they contain the smell of cigarette stubs.  They are also small enough to fit into your pocket or handbag.

To promote the 'portable pouches', Fareham Borough Council is giving away 100.  Our enforcement officers will give them out during their patrols, alternatively you may call into the Civic Offices and ask at reception (while stocks last).

If you miss out on a free one, don't worry, there are a variety of pouches available from 99p for a standard one, to £4 for a nifty brushed silver one, via the ENCAMS website (this is an external hyperlink).

For further information please contact us on 01329 236100, alternatively you may e-mail us at regulatory@fareham.gov.uk.