Outdoor ashtrays at parks and beaches are one way to alleviate the debate on smoking bans
Outdoor ashtrays are a smart strategy to consider in the debate on banning smoking from state and city parks and beaches.
The idea to outlaw smoking at parks and beaches continues to surface in different states around the US.
Gov. Jerry Brown of California recently vetoed, for the third time, a bill in his state that would have enacted such a ban.
The governor reportedly felt the bill amounted to overreaching by the government.
There are several issues involved.
Proponents of these bans argue about the dangers of secondhand smoke. Opponents say there are plenty of places in parks and beaches where people can avoid the smoke if they are concerned.
Another dispute is the possibility of forest fires caused by discarded cigarettes, which is major worry in a state such as California where thousands of acres and numerous homes have been destroyed by fires.
Outdoor ashtrays are a deterrent to cigarette litter
The third issue is litter. This is where Outdoor Ashtrays could be used as a solution to satisfy both sides.
Even though a cigarette is much smaller than a discarded soda cup or hamburger container, the volume for this category of litter is super-high.
In fact, in research conducted by Keep America Beautiful, cigarettes were found to be the No. 1 source of litter.
The problem is that those cigarettes contain plastic which experts say can take up to 25 years to degrade.
In fact, in one coastal cleanup in San Luis Obispo County, in just three hours volunteers picked up 15,000 discarded cigarettes. The organizers said that amounted to half the debris found on the beach.
Outdoor ashtrays - lightweight and small but stop the No. 1 source of litter
What can be done?
Here's one solution. Distribute more Outdoor Ashtrays.
Many smokers don't want to be litterbugs. The challenge for them is that there aren't many places where they can extinguish their smokes.
Designate smoking areas at parks and beaches. Smokers can hang out with smokers.
Provide plenty of Outdoor Ashtrays. These are not big, expensive items. Many are basically a molded plastic basin with a long stem that puts the cigarettes out.
If they are available, a large majority of smokers will use them. For one, they recognize these products are made for them.
Secondly, most people who enjoy the beauty of a park or a beach, certainly don't want to spoil that beauty with ugly cigarette butts.
Litter creates more litter
But here's another fact that Keep America Beautiful researchers discovered. Litter creates more litter. If a smoker sees an area where there are discarded cigarette butts and no Outdoor Ashtrays, then they will most likely throw their cigarettes there.
But if you provide Outdoor Ashtrays in convenient areas, most smokers will take a few extra steps and use them.
Imagine the percentage of trash from cigarettes that could be reduced if these inexpensive smokers' outposts were distributed about an area. It could be significant.
What's even better, is that providing Outdoor Ashtrays at beaches and even parks, keeps this type of trash out of waterways, where it is harmful to marine life.
Remember, those plastic filters made out of cellulose acetate, last a very, very long time. Tobacco might be an organic matter that deteriorates quickly. But the filtration materials in the tips do not.
In addition, cigarettes contain trace amounts of cadmium, arsenic and lead. When combined with thousands of discarded butts, these chemicals could have an effect on the environment and wildlife.
Fewer and fewer people smoke today. But there are still a large number of cigarettes thrown away each year, an estimated 5.5 trillion worldwide.
Something can be done right away. Towns wouldn't need a state or local law to do it.
While both sides wrestle back and forth on a ban, add more Outdoor Ashtrays as one strategy that could be implemented immediately and resolve part of the problem.