PENNSYLVANIA — Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful partnered with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to implement the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program (CLPP) at 17 service plazas.
Seventy ash receptacles were installed at the entrances to buildings and other transition points. Additionally, educational messaging about the consequences of cigarette and other tobacco related litter was displayed at the participating service plazas.
In eight months, the program saw a final reduction rate of 43%.
>> Grant money funds program meant to reduce cigarette litter along Pennsylvania Turnpike
According to Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s 2019 Pennsylvania Litter Research Study, over 500 million pieces of litter were found on Pennsylvania’s roadways. Of the total estimated litter, 186.2 million or 37.1% were cigarette butts.
“We are thankful for our partnership with Keep PA Beautiful and eager to see the results that are already occurring at our service plazas along the Pennsylvania Turnpike,” said Keith Jack, director of facilities operations and co-chair of the Turnpike’s Sustainability Committee. “We look forward to continuing to raise awareness of the environmental impact from cigarette butt litter through educating the 550,000 daily users across our system. We will continue to help others understand their individual responsibility for proper waste disposal, including properly disposing of their cigarette butts, and the impact that can have on their community.”
The program partners with TerraCycle to recycle collected cigarette butts, turning waste into reusable materials.
“Providing ash receptacles and educating the public are effective strategies to combat the most common type of litter. We are proud to collaborate with the PA Turnpike Commission to reduce cigarette butts and tobacco product litter by 43% at these 17 service plazas. The program significantly reduces the amount of cigarette litter in public spaces, increases awareness of proper disposal and improves disposal habits. These efforts help save costs associated with maintenance of public areas,” said Shannon Reiter, President, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.
To find out more about the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program, visit keeppabeautiful.org and choose Programs, then Cigarette Litter Prevention Program.
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