Special bins installed in smoking hotspots

New bins specifically for smoking-related litter have been installed in West Malling

New bins specifically for cigarettes have been installed in a town in Kent.

Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council said more than 3,000 fixed penalty notices had been issued for smoking-related litter in the borough in the past year.

The scheme has been implemented to target areas where smokers tend to gather, including near pubs, takeaway restaurants and shops in West Malling, the council said.

Martin Coffin, cabinet lead for transformation and infrastructure, said: “With these buckets and bins in place, there can be no excuse for dropping cigarette ends in the streets.”

A total of 20 colourfully-designed steel buckets filled with sand have been placed around the borough.

Across England, cigarette butts account for 66 per cent of all litter, Keep Britain Tidy said.

The charity’s chief executive, Allison Ogden Newton OBE, said: “Our researchers believe that the bucket bins will be a simple but very effective disposal solution to reduce cigarette littering.

“They’re convenient and affordable. By putting a large number in a small area, we hope to show that offering an easy and convenient solution for smokers that allows them to do the right thing with their butts, we can create a cleaner environment for everyone.”

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