Smoking may become very expensive

SMOKERS have been asked to carry their own cigarette butt disposal container to stop cigarette butts getting into waterways.
Containers are commercially available as small canisters that close and can be safely carried.
Casey mayor Colin Butler said that under new legislation smokers could cop on-the-spot fines for dropping a cigarette butt outside a venue.
He said cigarette butts were considered litter and smokers could be fined $110 for littering an extinguished butt and $220 if it was still burning.
“This could create an expensive night out,” Cr Butler said. “Council’s law enforcement staff will be on the lookout for smokers discarding their butts outside licensed venues. This comes in to place because of a smoking ban in pubs and clubs.
“Discarded cigarette butts wreak havoc on our environment as they are easily blown from place to place or washed into the storm water system, ending up in our waterways. Cigarette butts are the most littered item in Victoria, responsible for 56 per cent of litter.
“The City of Casey is determined to see our streets and waterways remain clean from such litter,” he said.
The launch comes as Sustainability Victoria figures show that a 10 per cent increase in smoking outdoors across the state could result in an extra 900,000 butts littered each day. Cr Butler said the council and venues were working to ensure bin facilities were available but smokers were also encouraged to carry their own containers.