No butts on littering

SMOKERS in Casey are being urged to bin their butts or face an on-the-spot fine.
Casey mayor Colin Butler said cigarette butts were considered litter and smokers could be fined $110 for littering an extinguished butt and $220 if it was still burning.
“Council’s law enforcement staff will be on the lookout for smokers discarding their butts outside a licensed venue following the banning of smoking in pubs and clubs, because you will be fined if you’re caught littering your butts,” Cr Butler said.
He said discarded cigarette butts wreaked havoc on the environment as they were easily washed into the stormwater system, ending up in our waterways.
“Cigarette butts are already the most littered item in Victoria, responsible for 56 per cent of our total litter items. The City of Casey is determined to see our streets and waterways remain clean from such litter,” he said.
The litter crackdown follows recent law changes prohibiting smokers from puffing away in indoor licensed venues.
Casey Council and local venues are working hard to make sure bin facilities are available, but smokers are also encouraged to carry their own butt disposal container, such as a commercially available portable ashtray or a small film canister with a lid.