With Smoking Banned, Butts Abound

By Laurin Penland

Wilmington, NC – As the statewide smoking ban approaches Wilmington solid waste employees are gearing up for what could be a huge litter problem in downtown Wilmington. And city employees are being creative when it comes to combating cigarette butts.

The City of Wilmington got a taste of things to come when Cape Fear Community College became a smoke-free campus in August, and students started tossing their cigarette butts into the curb across the street at the Cotton Exchange.

Wilmington Solid Waste Manager Rick Porter says there is zero money in the budget for trash receptacles. But, with donations, he's helped invent a new ash container that's getting a lot of use.

"These two next to Cape Fear we've been emptying almost every two to three days, which is in great contrast to the rest of downtown, where generally we can get by with emptying them once a week. So the smoking ban has definitely had a big effect."

Porter says local bar owners are throwing a fundraiser to help pay for more ash containers. He hopes they'll be out on the street by January when the state-wide smoking ban kicks in.

Do you have insight or expertise on this topic? Please email us, we'd like to hear from you. news@whqr.org.