Butt Bins- Addressing Litter at the 'Source'

Personal ashtray

These small ashtrays are designed for people to carry them in their bags or pockets to dispose of their butt if they are unable to find a suitable receptacle. The ashtrays are reusable and come in different shapes and materials. They can also be personalised with a logo or a message.

The uptake of personal ashtrays has not been popular to date and some research indicates that they may become a part of the litter stream if used as a giveaway without appropriate education. Do not let this discourage you from using them as a part of your program. Ensuring people know how to use them and clean them, and regularly distributing communication material reminding people to use them will naturally increase their visibility and effectiveness.

As people become used to seeing and using personal ashtrays, more and more people will begin to use them. Think of the reusable bag phenomenon which used the 3 essential elements to make using reusable bags second nature to many people. Through communication tools people understood the importance of using them (education), making the bags affordable and easily available made it easy for people to change their behaviour (infrastructure), and in some cases enforcement exists where people are forced to buy a plastic bag.

A number of councils provide free film canisters with an educational sticker to smokers to use as a personal ashtray. It is important to include instructions on how to use the canister.

Wind proof ashtrays

Windproof ashtrays sit on a bench or table and are generally used for outdoor drinking and dining areas as they capture the butts and ash and stop them from blowing away. Many varieties are available and these may also be personalised with a logo or message.

Many Victorian councils have outdoor dining permit conditions stipulating that the premises must provide windproof ashtrays for their customers.

Mobile butt bins

Mobile butt bins can be similar in capacity to wall mounted butt bins however they have the bonus of being able to be moved if a wall mounted butt bin is inappropriate or for use at an event.

Consider your needs closely when choosing a mobile butt bin to ensure it is sturdy enough for the environment in which it will be placed and light enough for staff to be able to move it.

Wall mounted butt bins

Wall mounted butt bins are permanently installed butt bins and come in a variety of shapes and capacities. Before installing a wall mounted butt bin it is crucial to identify the litter hotspots and if possible test the type of infrastructure you hope to use to ensure it is appropriate for that area.

Often, wall or pole mounted butt bins provide a place for signage and in some cases this space may also be used for advertising purposes. Some street litter bins have a butt-out space on the top. However, as you can see from the photograph, smokers do not always put the butt in the bin after butting out. Strong winds can blow the butts onto the street while the smoker walks away thinking they have done the right thing. When questioned about these behaviours, smokers say they are worried about setting fire to the bins by putting it in! However, if you do not have dedicated butt bins then a street litter bin with a butt-out area is preferable to nothing. Educating smokers how to use the bins properly can be highlighted in your education campaign.