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Swale council hopes new cigarette waste bins will solve litter issue

Cigarette bins are getting quizzical in Swale to tackle littering.

New "butt ballot bins" have been placed around the borough inviting smokers to answer questions by posting their cigarette ends through a hole marked with "yes" or "no".

Questions include: "Should Rooney still start for England?"

Swale council and MP's office staff casting their vote with the new Butt Ballot Bins, which being piloted in the borough
Swale council and MP's office staff casting their vote with the new Butt Ballot Bins, which being piloted in the borough

The pilot scheme aims to encourage people not throw their cigarette butts on the pavement or in the road.

A question is displayed on the top section of the box and smokers can choose 'yes' or 'no'.

Cabinet member for environmental and rural affairs, Cllr David Simmons, said: "Cigarette butts are the most common item of litter found on our streets, which not only make an area look unpleasant, but are time-consuming and expensive to clean up.

Environment response manager Alister Andrews, MP Gordon Henderson with Litter Angels Secretary Samantha Williams, Mr Henderson's constituency office manager Jess McMahon, environment warden Jeff Payne and environmental projects officer Vikki Sedgwick unveiling the borough's first Butt Ballot Bins
Environment response manager Alister Andrews, MP Gordon Henderson with Litter Angels Secretary Samantha Williams, Mr Henderson's constituency office manager Jess McMahon, environment warden Jeff Payne and environmental projects officer Vikki Sedgwick unveiling the borough's first Butt Ballot Bins

"We understand that people want us to tackle litter, and this is why we're trying a range of ideas including both education and enforcement."

Trials of the same initiative in London have helped reduce littering by 30%.

Charity Litter Angels is heading up support for the programme.

Following the positive reaction of the charity's work educating pupils in primary schools, chairman MP Gordon Henderson is hoping the success will spread to adults.

Six of the bins have been placed around Swale, including Sittingbourne, Sheerness, and Faversham train stations.

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