After accepting a Proclamation from Indian River County Commissioners on August 13th, Keep Indian River Beautiful (KIRB) kicked-off the county's first Cigarette Litter Prevention Program (CLPP). In partnership with the Substance Abuse Council (SAC) information regarding cigarette litter was dispersed with pocket ashtrays and tips on the programs SAC provides tobacco users. Some county residents may not know the SAC hosts free programs and classes for smokers who want to quit. Along with support groups, SAC is able to provide over the counter nicotine gum, patches and other aids that can be used to help curve the desire to smoke cigarettes or chewing tobacco.

Supplying the community with information and other goodies was only one phase of the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program study. The second phase included Keep Indian River Beautiful scouting and collecting cigarette litter downtown Vero. More than 1,327 or 1 ½ pounds of cigarette butts were collected in a ½ mile area. With this in mind, cigarette litter accounts for one out of five pieces of debris collected during cleanup events.

Cigarette litter often times is washed into storm drains or other waterways which lead to the Sebastian River and Indian River Lagoon. It should be known cigarette butts in waterways emit chemicals polluting the environments of aquatic wildlife, not to mention our own water quality is impacted.

To eliminate cigarette litter, KIRB suggests smokers use pocket ashtrays to collect butts while in the car, at the beach or on the go. Pocket ashtrays can be made from an old Altoids tin or other similar candy tins. Another inexpensive solution to prevent cigarette litter at home or work, reuse an old metal coffee container, fill with water approximately ¼ full and cut a hole in the plastic lid where butts can be dropped into the receptacle.

Information or free candy tins and metal coffee containers made into cigarette butt receptacles can be found at KIRB's ReUseExchangeCenter or call 388-5472 for a free Keep America Beautiful pocket ashtray. Or contact Barbara at the Substance Abuse Council, 770-4811 to learn more about the free programs and products they offer tobacco users.

Keep Indian River Beautiful, Inc.- Our mission is to empower individuals to take greater responsibility for their community environments by involving volunteers in litter prevention and reduction, beautification, neighborhood revitalization, recycling and conservation education.