City cracks down on smoking-related litter
By Dolly A. Butzdbutz@siouxcityjournal.com | Posted: Friday, November 07, 2008
SIOUX CITY -- The City of Sioux City is trying to curb smoking-related litter on streets and sidewalks by offering black steel cigarette receptacles for resale to businesses and by launching its third community-wide anti-litter campaign.
After a statewide smoking law went into effect in July, banning smoking in most workplace and public spaces, Sioux City police officer Jeremy McClure said the amount of cigarette butts on city streets increased.
"Unfortunately, one of the side effects of this law was that we saw an increase of the butts in the streets," McClure said Thursday during a news conference at the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce. "Now we are hoping that there would be voluntary compliance with the littering law and using these receptacles."
McClure said officers can issue citations for littering from $50 to $250, but he said they would rather have residents comply with litter laws by using the receptacles and not have to take that action.
Over 20 steel receptacles were installed outside of downtown businesses about a week ago. Since then, Roger Caudron, executive director of Downtown Partners, said city officials have noticed a decrease in smoking-related litter.
"I think they are being successful," he said. "We're seeing positive impacts already in some of the outer density areas."
The four-gallon receptacles will withstand the elements and do not have to be emptied frequently, according to Caudron.
In addition to the receptacles, Sioux City residents will also be reminded to properly dispose of smoking-related litter through billboards and public service announcements. The public service announcements will begin airing on the radio today, and billboards will go up later this week.
"Cigarette butts linger for ever and ever -- its up to 15 years that butt sits on the ground before it totally disintegrates," said Regina Roth, co-chairwoman of the Chamber committee, which helped develop the campaign. "We are asking each and everyone of you to just do your part."
Purchase a receptacle
Downtown Partners will be subsidizing the cost of receptacles for downtown businesses. The receptacles will be available to downtown businesses for purchase for $70 plus tax. The receptacles will be sold to businesses outside of the downtown area for $140 plus tax. Call Downtown Partners at 712-252-0014 to purchase your receptacle.
After a statewide smoking law went into effect in July, banning smoking in most workplace and public spaces, Sioux City police officer Jeremy McClure said the amount of cigarette butts on city streets increased.
"Unfortunately, one of the side effects of this law was that we saw an increase of the butts in the streets," McClure said Thursday during a news conference at the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce. "Now we are hoping that there would be voluntary compliance with the littering law and using these receptacles."
McClure said officers can issue citations for littering from $50 to $250, but he said they would rather have residents comply with litter laws by using the receptacles and not have to take that action.
Over 20 steel receptacles were installed outside of downtown businesses about a week ago. Since then, Roger Caudron, executive director of Downtown Partners, said city officials have noticed a decrease in smoking-related litter.
"I think they are being successful," he said. "We're seeing positive impacts already in some of the outer density areas."
The four-gallon receptacles will withstand the elements and do not have to be emptied frequently, according to Caudron.
In addition to the receptacles, Sioux City residents will also be reminded to properly dispose of smoking-related litter through billboards and public service announcements. The public service announcements will begin airing on the radio today, and billboards will go up later this week.
"Cigarette butts linger for ever and ever -- its up to 15 years that butt sits on the ground before it totally disintegrates," said Regina Roth, co-chairwoman of the Chamber committee, which helped develop the campaign. "We are asking each and everyone of you to just do your part."
Purchase a receptacle
Downtown Partners will be subsidizing the cost of receptacles for downtown businesses. The receptacles will be available to downtown businesses for purchase for $70 plus tax. The receptacles will be sold to businesses outside of the downtown area for $140 plus tax. Call Downtown Partners at 712-252-0014 to purchase your receptacle.
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LCT wrote on Nov 8, 2008 7:58 AM:
X-SSC wrote on Nov 8, 2008 12:27 AM:
scty3 wrote on Nov 7, 2008 6:45 PM:
Dick wrote on Nov 7, 2008 1:46 PM:
CMF wrote on Nov 7, 2008 1:18 PM: