· web viewdropping cigarette butts and cigar tips to the ground, putting them in planters, and...
TRANSCRIPT
Keep America Beautiful’sCigarette Litter Prevention
Program
How You Can Help
What is Cigarette Butt Litter?• Dropping cigarette butts and cigar tips to the ground, putting them in planters, and disposing of
them in drains and waterways is littering• Only 10% of cigarette butts are deposited in litter receptacles*• 35% of smokers toss five or more cigarette butts per pack on the ground***• Cigarette butts are the most littered item—representing 32% of all items collected**• Most cigarette littering occurs at “transition points”
Cigarette Butts Also: • Cause blight
• Accumulates in gutters, along fencing, outside doorways, and at bus shelters• Creates sense of disorder
• Don’t disappear• About 95% of cigarette filters are composed of cellulose acetate, a plastic which can
persist in the environment*• Are harmful to waterways and wildlife
• Litter traveling through storm drains ends up in local streams, rivers, and waterways• Poses hazard to animals and marine life when they mistake filters for food
Where is Cigarette Butt Litter?Cigarette butt litter happens everywhere.It’s not only a problem for city centers or other dense urban settings. Cigar tips and cigarette butt litter are persistent at beaches and shore lines, recreation areas, along roadways, and at special events. Consider addressing the issue in these settings as well.
City Centers:• Many community cigarette litter prevention programs focus on a downtown area. And for good
reason. City blocks with high-density retail, nightlife, and tourism are likely to have a real need for cigarette butt litter prevention and education.
• They are also home to many transition points, areas where a smoker must extinguish a cigarette or cigar before proceeding, such as outside retail stores, hotels, office buildings, and at bus shelters and train platforms. A full 30% of litter at transition points is cigarette butts, and pedestrians are the source of 95.8% of litter at these areas.1
• Storm drains are also an easy target for cigarette butt and cigar tip litter. Cigarette butts are the most commonly littered item at storm drains, representing 32% of all litter at these sites. Pedestrians are the source of 57% of this litter and motorists just over 32%.2
Roadways and Highways:
• According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2011 Estimates, 76% of Americans drive alone to work, with the average daily commute about 25.1 minutes. Another 3.2 million workers commute 90 minutes or more each day.1 And for the past decade, ash trays as a standard feature in new cars have been phased out.2
• Tobacco products comprise 38% of all U.S. roadway litter and 53% of roadside litter is attributed to motorists.3
• Motorists are also the source of just over 32% of all tobacco litter at storm drains.3 Cigarette butts dropped out of car windows are litter and a potential fire hazard.
• Start with signage at intersections. Be sure signage can be placed in your program area. Know the rules and get necessary permissions. Enlist local, state, or federal department of transportation authorities to guide you through the process.
• Add ash receptacles at road-side rest stops and welcome centers, gas stations and convenience stores, parking lots, food courts, and picnic areas.
• Provide portable auto ashtrays at the Department of Motor Vehicles, local AAA outlets, car rental businesses, rest stops, local car events, or other gatherings that might attract drivers.
• Partner with your local department of transportation, American Automobile Association, local adopt-a-highway and local car rental companies.
Beaches, Lakefronts, and Waterways.• According to a 2009 study by Keep America Beautiful, “Litter In America”, 32% of litter at storm
drains is cigarette butts.• As it is difficult to retrieve cigar tips and cigarette butt litter buried in the sand or tossed in the
water, provide education and opportunities to reduce litter before visitors enter a beach, marina, or waterfront area. Display signage and other targeted education at entry points, boat fueling areas, changing rooms, and concessions.
• Distribute pocket ashtrays to adult smokers throughout the beach and boating community. Engage local river patrols, waterfront and marina owners, and yachting associations to help post signage and hand deliver portable ashtrays. And don’t forget fishing and kayaking clubs.
• Use events such as the Great American Cleanup to educate volunteers about cigarette butt and cigar tip litter and waterways, as well as offer pocket ashtrays to smokers.
• Ensure ash receptacles are at transition points, including vehicle and pedestrian access areas to the beach, docks and piers, parking lots, boat rental, residential areas, and boardwalks and other retail locations.
Parks and Recreation Areas:• Cigar tips and cigarette butt litter at picnic areas, golf courses, soccer fields and ballparks, hiking
paths, and other wilderness or recreation areas mar the natural beauty of these places. It can also create fires, and may injure wildlife. Tobacco litter represents 31.5% of litter in parks and other outdoor recreation areas.1 To prevent cigarette butt litter in these areas:
• Feature signage at transition points.• Add receptacles at parking lots, scenic overlooks, or other access areas.
• Remind those using recreation areas that “pack it in, pack it out” includes cigar tips and cigarette butt litter to ensure no harm to the natural resources or the ecosystem.
How You Can Help
1. Assess your communities needs
2. Gather a team
3. Start a program
4. Sustain and expand your program
5. How you do it
6. Start in your neighborhood
7. Flyers and resources
Assess Needs & Establish a BudgetIf you’re ready to implement a positive behavior change in your community to cleanup and eliminate cigarette litter, we have the tools to get you there. However, first you need to know what you’re up against, what your communities needs are and what it is going to take to make these changes. Here are some basic first steps prior to implementing a cigarette litter prevention program:
1. Investigate local litter laws. Does a program already exist? Is it enforced? What are the penalties? Are businesses required to keep the area in front of their building clean? Is there a smoking ban in parks or on beaches? Determine a strategy for action based on answers to these questions.
2. Understand your community’s ethic around the cigarette litter issue. Take a quick assessment:
1. Complete cigarette litter scans. Use an easy, proven tool (see slide 11) to quantify cigarette butt litter in a small area of the community. Results from the scans can help direct program resources and assess impact after start of the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program. Scans can be conducted in a downtown, park or recreation area, beach or other waterfront, roadways or highways, and even at special event locations.
2. Where is cigarette litter impacting the community’s quality-of-life, economy, and neighborhood? Where are the areas of greatest need?
3. Use scan information to identify transition points for new ash receptacles or to move existing ones. When ordering ash receptacles, budget for their installation and maintenance, and consider any street furniture or streetscape ordinances.
4. Local litter laws and placement of new ash receptacles can help guide public education messaging and how and where pocket ashtrays or portable auto ashtrays are distributed. Select media that reaches your target audience and gives you maximum bang for your buck.
Gather a TeamStaring the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program in your community is not a feat to take on alone. You’ll need support from business, community members and leaders, public works, etc. Here’s how you can start to gather your team:
• Round-up community leaders, businesses, elected officials, parks and recreation personnel, public works, department of transportation, and others who have a stake in the areas where the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program can have an impact. Select your task force (see next slide) and a task force leader; then begin outlining roles for other partners. Some members may be able to provide in-kind resources or funding.
• Once you have you have your team identified, share your knowledge with them so you can all align on the communities needs with regards to cigarette litter.
• Select area for program launch
– As a team, identify areas where cigarette butt litter appears to be a problem.
– Start in a location that matches task force member interests or where they have the most to gain from a program. For example, if most are business owners then target a downtown area as the first priority. Or, retail and pedestrian areas along a shoreline may be where cigarette butt litter is a persistent problem
Example of Team Members/Task ForceEstablish a task force of stakeholders who share the goal of reducing local cigarette butt litter. This is the first step in planning an effective Cigarette Litter Prevention Program. Enlist individuals from the public, private and civic sectors, including government, business and residents. Collaborators and partners from a cross-section of the community will ensure program impact.
In each category, identify individuals you can invite to help implement a Cigarette Litter Prevention Program.
Elected Government Officials
MayorFirst selectmanCounty commissionersChief of policeCouncil membersJudgesCommunity environmental advocates
Municipal Department Directors
Public worksParks and Rec. SanitationHousingCommunity Improvement
Civic Leaders and Organizations
Keep America Beautifuil affilaiteReligious communitiesEducation InstitutionsChambers of commerceBusiness improvement districtsVolunteer groups
Media Representatives
PrintRadioBroadcast TVCable TVOutdoor advertisingOnline/digital
Business & Property Owners/Managers
RestaurantsBars/clubsHotels/MotelsConvention CentersRetailers
Launch the ProgramTo kick-start your Cigarette Litter Prevention Program:
1. Create a launch timetable to coordinate:1. Announcement of scan results2. Public education3. Installation of ash receptacles4. Distribution of pocket ashtrays and/or portable auto ashtrays.
2. Roll out the media1. Start print, radio, TV or other ads announcing the scan results and program kick off,
sharing news about ash receptacles, etc.
3. Proclaim the city’s fight to stop cigarette litter (see slide 12)
4. Get public education fliers out (see additional resources)
5. Consider launching a campaign
6. Place ash receptacles at targeted transition points1. Time installation to a news release announcing the program launch proclamation or
scan results
7. Hand out pocket ashtrays and/or portable auto ashtrays
Evaluate Program ImpactYour program is in full swing, but was it effective? Here’s how you can see just how much impact your efforts have had:
• Conduct regular follow-up scans– Go back to the same area where you conducted an initial cigarette litter scan and scan
again at regular intervals to confirm the program is reducing cigarette butt litter. This will provide concrete results for your team to announce to the community.
• Target the first follow-up scan any time between five weeks and three months after the start of a Cigarette Litter Prevention Program. As you expand the program or move to new target areas, conduct a new scan and plan ongoing follow-up scans in those locations as well.
• Gauge public awareness – Check in with how well the program is making local residents aware of the issue—and
the city’s program. • Track media coverage. • Consider a small resident survey to measure public awareness.
Program Sustainability and ExpansionLike all efforts to change individual behavior, education and awareness are bedrock tools. Lasting program impact requires a commitment to ongoing public education and to appropriate and sufficient ash receptacles that help individuals not litter cigarette butts. Here are a few easy steps to help you sustain and expand:
• Keep at it. Once your program is underway, keep it going. Meet regularly with the program team. Establish long-term support for maintaining ash receptacles. Make cigarette butt litter prevention part of continuing community improvement efforts.
• Sustain education initiatives. Create a long-term community education and outreach program around cigarette butt litter prevention. Consider a biannual or quarterly cigarette butt litter count, initiate a regular education push, or work with the media to keep the issue on the front burner.
• Conduct a “sustainability survey.” Measure the cumulative impact of the program with a sustainability survey. This documents reductions in cigarette butt litter over time following program implementation. This data validates the long-term value of strategically-placed ash receptacles, public education, and other strategies for reducing cigarette butt litter—and all litter. [Survey on slide 17]
• Grow the program. Expand the reach of the existing program by adding other locations or venues where cigarette butt litter is contributing to community blight and there is support from stakeholders. Go back to any original list of prioritized locations and move to the next one.
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program?The Cigarette Litter Prevention Program (CLPP) is one Keep America Beautiful’s signature national programs. It is designed to support local community improvement initiatives for reducing cigarette butt litter. Get step-by-step instructions [LINK TO HOW YOU CAN HELP] for implementing the program in your community.
What are the program components?An effective local Cigarette Litter Prevention Program includes four proven, field-tested solutions or strategies for reducing cigarette butt litter: Encourage enforcement of litter laws, including cigarette litter; Raise awareness about the issue using public service messages; Place ash receptacles at transition points such as entrances to public buildings; and Distribute pocket or portable ashtrays to adult smokers.
Learn more about how to implement these strategies [LINK TO HOW YOU CAN HELP]
Who implements a local Cigarette Litter Prevention Program?The program is implemented by a local “Task Force” organized for that purpose. A task force is comprised of community leaders, businesses, elected officials, parks and recreation personnel, public works, department of transportation, residents, and others who have a stake in the areas where a Cigarette Litter Prevention Program can have an impact. Some members may be able to provide in-kind resources or funding for the program. Get help identifying task force members [LINK TO RESOURCES]
How do I apply for a grant to implement the program with my affiliate?To apply for a grant or for more information, please contact us at [email protected]
Where do I focus the program in my community?Cigarette butt litter happens everywhere. It occurs in downtown areas, and it’s persistent at beaches, recreation areas, along roadways, and at local events. Find out more about suggested program implementation locations and venues. [link to HOW YOU CAN HELP]
What are “transition points”?Transition points are areas where a smoker must extinguish a cigarette before proceeding, such as outside retail stores, restaurants, bars, hotels, office buildings, before entering beaches, parks or other recreation areas, and at roadside rest areas, parking lots, bus shelters, and train platforms. Most cigarette butt littering happens at these areas.
How do I assess cigarette butt litter in my community?
An easy, proven tool to quantify cigarette butt litter in a small area of the community is Keep America Beautiful’s Cigarette Litter Scan [LINK TO RESOURCES]. Scans can be conducted in a downtown, park or recreation area, beach or other waterfront, roadways or highways, and even at special event locations. Results from the scans can help direct program resources and assess impact after the start of a Cigarette Litter Prevention Program. Results may also help attract more funding for the program.
How do I sustain the program?To ensure the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program becomes part of your community’s ongoing improvement activities, meet regularly with the local program task force. Ensure the long-term maintenance of ash receptacles is in place, and keep the message in front of the public. Create an annual education or outreach program to the community around cigarette butt litter prevention. Consider a biannual or quarterly cigarette butt litter count, initiate a regular education push, or work with the media to keep the issue on the front burner.
RESOURCES
Cigarette Litter Brochure
SAMPLE PROCLAMATION
PROCLAMATIONWHEREAS, the control of litter and litter prevention is vitally important to the quality of life in (insert name of town/city/county); and
WHEREAS, the citizens, businesses, and (insert name of town/city/county) government have an interest in encouraging every resident to protect and preserve the beauty and cleanliness of the community; and
WHEREAS, Keep America Beautiful, Inc., a national nonprofit organization with a history of addressing litter for over 50 years by encouraging individual responsibility, community partnerships and advocating volunteerism, is addressing an emerging litter problem, CIGAR TIP AND CIGARETTE BUTT LITTER: and
WHEREAS, (insert name of organization/company/town/city/county) will launch a Cigarette Litter Prevention Program to reduce cigar tip and cigarette butt litter in (insert name of town/city); and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of (insert the name of organization/company/town/city/county) in cooperation with local businesses, community and civic leaders agree that CIGAR TIP AND CIGARETTE BUTT LITTER has become a community-wide problem and have a strong interest in reducing it and eventually eliminating it; and
WHEREAS, all interested residents are invited to support the launch of the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program in (insert town/city name) on (insert date),
NOW, THEREFORE, I, (name of Mayor/First Selectman/County Board Chair/Organization Executive Director/Company CEO)
of the (city/county) of (name of town/city) do hereby proclaim
(insert month/s, year)
“Cigarette Litter Prevention (Month/Year)”
in (insert name of town/city)
SEAL HERE (signature with date)
Keep America Beautiful Cigarette Litter Prevention Program SUSTAINABILITY SURVEY for 2016 Grant Recipients
One of the 2016 grant requirements was to conduct and report an additional follow up scan, the “Sustainability Scan”, not less than six months after the first follow up scan. This is to help us understand the long-term impact, or sustainability, of a community’s Cigarette Litter Prevention Program. This scan is conducted in the exact same area as the previous scans, and will allow a comparison of all three scans. Please complete one survey for each 2016 program/grant “Scan Area”.
1. Organization name, city, and state: 2. Name or description of Cigarette Litter Prevention Program Scan Area (e.g., park, downtown, beach):
3. Year Cigarette Litter Prevention Program was first implemented in this Scan Area: 20164. “Preliminary” and “Follow-Up” data for 2016 Program Scan Area (this allows us to confirm our
records). Please list only the raw number of total cigarette butts:
PRELIMINARY SCAN DATA FOLLOW-UP SCAN DATA
5. Please identify the make and model of each ash receptacle installed as part of your 2016 Cigarette Litter Prevention Program. Also indicate if the receptacle is still in working condition (and if not, why not), and if you would recommend it. Again, please list all ash receptacles installed.
MAKE AND MODEL OF ASH RECEPTACLE(e.g., Smokers Outpost Classico or Rubbermaid
Groundskeeper)
IN WORKING CONDITION (circle one)
IF NOT IN WORKING CONDITION, WHY?(circle all that apply) RECOMMEND
(circle one)YES NO Vandalized Damaged Removed YES NOYES NO Vandalized Damaged Removed YES NOYES NO Vandalized Damaged Removed YES NOYES NO Vandalized Damaged Removed YES NOYES NO Vandalized Damaged Removed YES NOYES NO Vandalized Damaged Removed YES NOYES NO Vandalized Damaged Removed YES NOYES NO Vandalized Damaged Removed YES NOYES NO Vandalized Damaged Removed YES NOYES NO Vandalized Damaged Removed YES NOYES NO Vandalized Damaged Removed YES NOYES NO Vandalized Damaged Removed YES NO
Other comments about the ash receptacles or their installation:
6. Please provide data for the “Sustainability Follow-up Scan” of the 2016 CLPP Scan Area, ensuring that this data is for the same program scan area as the original preliminary and follow-up scans.
Local Results Release TemplateFor Immediate Release
Contact: Name (Note: Highlighted text should be tailored to local program)OrganizationPhoneEmail
Keep (City) Beautiful/Local Organization Achieves XX% Reduction in Cigarette Litter Efforts impact the most commonly-littered item in America, cigarette butts
(City, State) (MONTH, DAY, 2016) – Results of the (CITY NAME) Cigarette Litter Prevention Program were reported this week following cigarette litter scans on local streets, as part of the annual Keep America Beautiful Cigarette Litter Prevention Program. In its first year with the program, Keep (City) Beautiful noted a XX% reduction in cigarette butt litter throughout [INSERT LOCATION]
“The Cigarette Litter Prevention Program allows us the opportunity to make drastic improvements in our effort to curb litter. Simple actions like installing ash receptacles and distributing pocket ashtrays have made a big difference in decreasing (city)’s litter and ultimately keeping our community beautiful,” said project leader, (Name). While there is still work to be done, I’m proud to say we have seen significant reductions in cigarette litter on our city streets and sidewalks.”
Tobacco products, including cigarette butts are the most littered item in America, representing nearly 38% of all items according to “Litter in America,” the Keep America Beautiful landmark study of litter and littering behavior.
Keep (City) Beautiful/local organization tested [INSERT LOCATION] that includes numerous “transition points” – places where people must stop smoking before proceeding. These points can include bus stops, building entrances, or corporate walkways. The (city) research team first conducted a preliminary scan (a count of littered cigarette butts) before it launched its Cigarette Litter Prevention Program earlier this [TIMEFRAME]. The launch included public education messaging that a cigarette butt not properly disposed of also counts as litter; the distribution of free pocket ashtrays to adult smokers; and the installation of ash receptacles in the program area. After completing a follow-up scan (a recount of littered cigarette butts), the research team was able to determine the difference this litter prevention program makes in reducing cigarette butt litter.
A team of community stakeholders who are passionate about (City)’s cleanliness and beauty worked together to conduct the necessary research. The team included (LIST business leaders/media/mayor).
“We’re proud to be able to contribute to this great program and do a little bit in our backyard that could go a long way towards protecting the environment,” (NAME of local store owner/government official) remarked.
[IF A REPEAT YEAR:] This is the (number) year for (City)’s participation. The city/county continues to find the program a valuable tool for educating its community on litter prevention and the facts about cigarette litter.
In 2014, the CLPP’s 12th year, there were 129 grant-supported implementations across the country in a variety of settings including downtowns, roadways, beaches, parks, marinas, colleges/universities, tourist locations, and at special event locations.Over the past 10 years, the CLPP has consistently cut cigarette butt litter by approximately half based on local measurements taken in the first four months to six months after program implementation. Survey results also demonstrated that as communities continue to monitor the program those reductions are sustained or even increased over time. Since the establishment of the CLPP, communities in 49 states and the District of Columbia have implemented the program to reduce cigarette litter.To address cigarette butt litter, KAB’s CLPP advocates that communities integrate four proven approaches:
Encourage enforcement of litter laws, including cigarette litter; Raise awareness about the issue using public service messages; Place ash receptacles at transition points such as entrances to public buildings; and Distribute pocket or portable ashtrays to adult smokers.
The "Guide to Cigarette Litter Prevention" provides information about starting and maintaining a Cigarette Litter Prevention Program in your community, and can be found online at PreventCigaretteLitter.org [LINK]. You can also view the new PSA [LINK] on KAB’s YouTube channel.
About Local Organization/Keep XXX Beautiful
About Keep America Beautiful, Inc.At Keep America Beautiful, we want to ensure that beauty is our lasting signature. A leading national nonprofit, Keep America Beautiful inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. We envision a country where every community is a clean, green, and beautiful place to live. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful provides the expertise, programs and resources to help people end littering in America, improve recycling in America, and beautify America's communities. The organization is driven by the work and passion of more than 600 community-based Keep America Beautiful affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the support of corporate partners, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals. To learn how you can donate or take action, visit kab.org . Follow us on Twitter and Instagram , like us on Facebook , or view us on YouTube .
# # #
Sample News ReleaseFor Immediate Release
Contact: Name (Note: Highlighted text should be tailored to local program)OrganizationPhoneEmail
[INSERT AFFILIATE NAME] Sets Sights on Cigarette Butt Litter Cigarette Litter Prevention Program to Launch Locally
(City, State) (Date) – Keep (City) Beautiful will take part in a national program to reduce the impact of cigarette butt litter, the Keep America Beautiful Cigarette Litter Prevention Program (CLPP). Since the establishment of the CLPP, communities in 49 states and the District of Columbia have implemented the program to reduce cigarette litter. In its first year, Keep (City) Beautiful (or local partner organization) will target cigarette butt and cigar tip litter throughout the one-mile, high-traffic area of (describe venue, including roadway, beach, park, marina, college/university, tourist spot, or special event) with a concentrated and sustained effort.
The program’s strategic approach involves all stakeholders in the cigarette litter problem, including businesses, law enforcement, local governments, community organizations and, importantly, smokers themselves. Mayors and community leaders nationwide are increasingly seeking solutions to address the litter issue.
Over the past 10 years, the CLPP has consistently cut cigarette butt litter by approximately half based on local measurements taken in the first four months to six months after program implementation. Survey results also demonstrated that as communities continue to monitor the program those reductions are sustained or even increased over time.
The Keep America Beautiful Cigarette Litter Prevention Program tackles the issue by integrating four proven approaches:
Encourage enforcement of litter laws, including cigarette litter; Raise awareness about the issue using public service messages; Place ash receptacles at transition points such as entrances to public buildings; and Distribute pocket or portable ashtrays to adult smokers.
Grant-supported Cigarette Litter Prevention Programs are taking place across the country in a variety of locations: downtowns, roadways, beaches, parks, marinas, colleges/universities, tourist spots, and at special events. Communities implementing the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program consistently cut cigarette butt litter by half. (If a repeat or expanded program, include Keep (City) Beautiful prior years’ local results.)
<<insert quote from local program director - sample provided>>”The cigarette litter prevention program has proven effective. Simple actions like installing ash receptacles and distributing pocket ashtrays have made a big difference in decreasing litter and ultimately keeping communities beautiful,” said project leader, (Name). “Using this program to bring attention to the issue, we expect similar reductions in (city).”
Tobacco products, consisting mainly of cigarette butts, are the most littered item in America, representing nearly 38 percent of all items littered, according to "Litter in America," Keep America Beautiful’s landmark study of litter and littering behavior.
Local businesses and organizations are also supporting the effort. <<Include listing of local stakeholders>>
[IF A REPEAT YEAR:] This is the (number) year for (City)’s participation. The city/county continues to find the program a valuable tool for changing behavior and educating the community on litter prevention and the facts about cigar tips and cigarette butt litter.
The "Guide to Cigarette Litter Prevention" provides information about starting and maintaining a Cigarette Litter Prevention Program in your community, and can be found online at PreventCigaretteLitter.org [LINK]. You can also view the new PSA [LINK] on KAB’s YouTube channel.
The Cigarette Litter Prevention Program is supported by Philip Morris USA, an Altria company; RAI Services Company; and the Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company.
About Local Organization/Keep XXX Beautiful [INSERT COPY]
About Keep America BeautifulAt Keep America Beautiful, we want to ensure that beauty is our lasting signature. A leading national nonprofit, Keep America Beautiful inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. We envision a country where every community is a clean, green, and beautiful place to live. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful provides the expertise, programs and resources to help people end littering in America, improve recycling in America, and beautify America's communities. The organization is driven by the work and passion of more than 600 community-based Keep America Beautiful affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the support of corporate partners, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals. To learn how you can donate or take action, visit kab.org . Follow us on Twitter and Instagram , like us on Facebook , or view us on YouTube .
# # #
Sample Local News Results ReleaseFor Immediate Release
Contact: Name (Note: Highlighted text should be tailored to local program)OrganizationPhoneEmail
Keep (City) Beautiful Achieves XX% Reduction in Cigarette Litter
Efforts target the most commonly-littered item in America, cigarette butts
(City, State) (Date) – Results of the (CITY NAME) Cigarette Litter Prevention Program (CLPP) were reported this week following cigarette litter scans on local streets or other venue/program location, as part of national nonprofit’s Keep America Beautiful Cigarette Litter Prevention Program. In its first year, Keep (City) Beautiful noted a XX% reduction in cigar tips and cigarette butt litter throughout the one-mile, high-traffic area of Main and Oak Streets in downtown/or describe other venue, including roadway, beach, park, marina, college/university, tourist spot, or special event.
<<insert quote from local program director - sample provided>> “The program is helping us make drastic improvements in our efforts to curb litter. Simple actions like installing ash receptacles and distributing pocket ashtrays have made a big difference in decreasing (city)’s litter and ultimately keeping our community beautiful,” said project leader, (Name). “While there is still work to be done, I’m proud to say we have seen significant reductions in cigarette litter on our city streets and sidewalks [or other locations within the venue, such as beaches, parks, roadways, etc.]”
Tobacco products, including cigarette butts, are the most-littered item in America, representing nearly 38 percent of all items, according to “Litter in America,” the Keep America Beautiful landmark study of litter and littering behavior.
The (city) research team conducted an initial scan, or count of littered cigar tips and cigarette butts, before launching the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program earlier this summer/or other time frame. Keep (City) Beautiful surveyed the two-mile radius of Main and Oak Streets, a popular and active area/or other venue that includes numerous “transition points” – places where people must stop smoking before proceeding. These points can include bus stops, outside retail and office buildings, before entering beaches and parks, and at roadside rest areas.
The program launch included public education messaging that a cigar tip or cigarette butt not properly disposed is litter; the distribution of free pocket ashtrays to adult smokers; and the installation of ash receptacles in the program area. After completing a follow-up scan (a recount of littered cigar tips and
cigarette butts) in the program area, the research team was able to determine the difference this litter prevention program makes in reducing cigar and cigarette butt litter.
A team of community stakeholders who are passionate about (City)’s cleanliness and beauty worked together to conduct the necessary research. The team included (LIST business leaders/media/mayor).
“We’re proud to be able to contribute to this great program and do a little bit in our backyard that could go a long way towards protecting the environment,” (NAME of local store owner/government official) remarked.
[IF A REPEAT YEAR:] This is the (number) year for (City)’s participation. The city/county continues to find the program a valuable tool for educating its community on litter prevention and the facts about cigarette litter.
Keep America Beautiful has field-tested and expanded the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program since 2003, funded by Philip Morris USA, an Altria company, and with additional support from RAI Services Company and Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company. Nationwide, communities participating in the program on average cut cigarette butt litter in half.
The Keep America Beautiful Cigarette Litter Prevention Program addresses the issue by integrating four proven approaches:
encouraging enforcement of litter laws that include cigarette litter; raising awareness about the issue using public service messages; placing ash receptacles at transition points such as near entrances to public buildings; and distributing pocket ashtrays to adult smokers.
Information about starting and maintaining a community Cigarette Litter Prevention Program is available online. The “Guide to Cigarette Litter Prevention” can be accessed through the Keep America Beautiful® Web site www.kab.org or directly at www.preventcigarettelitter.org.
The Cigarette Litter Prevention Program is supported by Philip Morris USA, an Altria company; RAI Services Company; and the Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company.
About Local Organization/Keep XXX Beautiful [INSERT COPY]
About Keep America BeautifulAt Keep America Beautiful, we want to ensure that beauty is our lasting signature. A leading national nonprofit, Keep America Beautiful inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. We envision a country where every community is a clean, green, and beautiful place to live. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful provides the expertise, programs and resources to help people end littering in America, improve recycling in America, and beautify America's communities. The organization is driven by the work and passion of more than 600 community-based Keep
America Beautiful affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the support of corporate partners, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals. To learn how you can donate or take action, visit kab.org . Follow us on Twitter and Instagram , like us on Facebook , or view us on YouTube .
# # #
Implementing a Cigarette Litter Prevention Program Use this schedule as a guide to keep your local Cigarette Litter Prevention Program on track:
Evaluate and Plan
2 Weeks
Understand the cigarette litter issue in your community
Gather and educate a Cigarette Litter Prevention Task Force/Team
Select area for Cigarette Litter Prevention Program activation
Set the program budget and identify key funding sources
Identify key transition points Choose and order ash receptacles, pocket ashtrays
and/or portable ashtrays Customize media materials
4-6 Weeks Plan and conduct cigarette butt litter scan in section of program area
Kick-Off
8-12 Weeks
Create a launch schedule Educate the public through scan results and
program launch, via local media outlets, distributing the public service announcement, advertising, etc.
Reinforce litter laws and fines Install ash receptacles at transition points Distribute pocket ashtrays/portable ashtrays
Ongoing Measurement
At regular intervals post program launch
Observe change and assess program impact Conduct follow-up cigarette butt scans Use scan results to educate residents about
program value, make adjustments to specific program tools, expand program reach
Update community on progress via publicity
Sustain & Expand
Ongoing Maintain existing program Enlarge reach of existing program or expand to
other priority locations
Learn more at www.PreventCigaretteLitter.org
Tips for Achieving Media Coverage1- Create a Rapport with Local Press. Before your program starts, you should compile a list of media
contacts. It’s a small list, but an important one. It should include your local daily and weekly newspapers, television and radio stations, magazines, bloggers and local news websites. When reading and watching the news, look for reporters covering similar topics that you can add to your list. You’ll want to build a working relationship with the contacts so they will report on your program each year.
2- Send Materials Properly. When you are ready to announce the start of your program you’ll want to
send your first press release [LINK TO SAMPLE PRESS RELEASE] to your media lists. It is important that you send your press releases as text inside the body of your email, not as attachments. Many media outlets have spam filters that will remove attachments. Always provide your contact information.
3- Get Ink. Start with your local daily or weekly community newspaper. Call the metro /city desk or the
newspaper’s editor, whose number or email should be on the websites, and alert them to your program and the program goals. A story in print is a great place to begin because often times, other media outlets such as the local television and radio stations will read about the story and decide to feature one as well.
4- Broadcast your News. If there is not initial interest or ‘pick up’ of the print story, go ahead and call
your local television and radio stations. You can also find the numbers on the websites. For TV you will want to call the assignment desk. For radio, you should contact the program or news director.
5- Use Visuals! Take photos of your scan areas, both before and after, to show the omission of the
cigarette butt litter. Visuals will give you a greater chance of getting your story placed. 6- Go to the Web. More and more of your neighbors are reading news from their desktops, laptops and
smartphones and tablets. Pitch stories to websites and community blogs of your local newspapers. You can respond to a blog or story that is related to the environment or a community clean up event to let readers know about the local efforts to reduce cigarette litter. Also, are there any parent, “mommy” or neighborhood blogs in your area? If so, you can post your program results at these sites to show how your organization is taking healthy steps to clean up cigarette butt litter.
7- Get Social! Sign up with Twitter so you can alert the community and the media of your cleanup
efforts and scans. You can also post your results on Twitter. You may also wish to create a page on Facebook for your program or post a comment or event notice if you have a Facebook page for your organization.
8- Proclaim your Day! - Contact your mayor’s office to determine his/her interest in coordinating a
Mayoral Proclamation [LINK TO SAMPLE PROCLAMATION] for a “Cigarette Litter Prevention Day” in your community. There are examples of how to conduct this event on the websites. It’s best to coordinate this announcement with a currently planned outdoor community activity, such as a local fair, so there is a built-in crowd to hear the news. Prior to the event, you should call your media list to alert them to the event.
9- Find Partners. Talk to your neighboring businesses and stakeholders including restaurants and retailers to determine if they would wish to join you in promoting the program, as they have a stake in a cleaner, greener more beautiful community. If they place an ash receptacle outside their storefront, perhaps they will wish to provide a quote for your press releases and press interviews.
10- Get it on the Calendar. If you do hold an event, you should ensure the calendar listings of your local newspapers publish it. You can call the newspaper and ask for the calendar editor or it may be listed in the websites. Most calendar sections of the papers make it simple to send in your listing but be sure to adhere to the length and style of the listing requirements.
