Newnan unveils cigarette litter prevention program

By Celia Shortt

Four ash receptacles for cigarette butts have been added in downtown Newnan as part of the city's Keep Newnan Beautiful project.

'In an effort to educate the public about the importance of a litter-free environment, ash receptacles have been added to our downtown as part of a city-wide litter prevention program,' said Keep Newnan Beautiful Director Carol Duffey.

These new receptacles are located throughout Newnan's Court Square are near the Alamo, Piedmont Wellness Center, Golden's, and Oz Cutlery. Patrons have already commented on the usefulness of them and have asked if more are coming, Duffey said.

These new receptacles are part of the national Keep America Beautiful - Cigarette Litter Prevention program that is working towards reducing cigarette butt litter throughout the country.

'With the ash receptacles, the public needs to understand that they are litter,' said Duffey. 'Throwing it on the street is not the best option there is.'

Keep Newnan Beautiful works in conjunction with other Newnan city departments and the ash receptacles are just one part of its whole anti-litter campaign. Other elements include a PSA, educational video, implementing Adopt-A-Park programs, and having litter prevention material available in English and other languages.

'A big part of this is educational,' said Duffey.

The Keep America Beautiful - Cigarette Litter Prevention program approaches the prevention issue by integrating four proven approaches:

• Encourage litter law enforcement, including cigarette litter;

• Raise awareness by using public service messages;

• Place ash receptacles at transition points and at public building entrances; and

• Distribute pocket ashtrays to adult smokers.

'The cigarette litter prevention has a proven track record,' said Duffey. 'Simple actions like installing ash receptacles and distributing pocket ashtrays have made a world of difference in decreasing litter and ultimately keeping communities beautiful.'

Since 2003, the Keep America Beautiful program has been field tested and has expanded to include the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program.

For more information on Newnan's program contact Carol Duffey at 770-253-8283, visit www.keepnewnanbeautiful. org or email cduffey@ cityofnewnan.org.

Source: http://www.times-herald.com/local/20130714SUNCigarette-litter-prevent-launch-Wpic

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