Butts targeted as indoor ban approaches

By Geelong Story Updates
A new campaign hopes to combat an expected surge in cigarette butt litter across the region when a ban on smoking in licensed venues begins in less than a fortnight.
Sustainability Victoria launched its Bin Your Butts campaign this week, fearing a billionbutt surge in new litter from the start of the ban on July 1.
The government department has estimated 990,000 butts would flood the state’s streets from a 10 per cent increase in smoking outdoors.
Member for Geelong Ian Trezise joined Lord of the Isles owner and Australian Hoteliers Association president Peter Burnett to launch the Bin Your Butts campaign in Geelong this week.
Mr Trezise pointed out that butts accounted for 56 per cent of Victorian litter items.
“The might be small but the create a big litter problem,” he said, noting the environmental impact of improperly discarded butts.