William Eichler 30 March 2021

Tobacco industry could be forced to pay £40m bill to collect littered butts

Tobacco industry could be forced to pay £40m bill to collect littered butts image

Tobacco companies could be forced to pay for the litter created by cigarettes, the Government has announced.

According to Keep Britain Tidy, smoking related litter is the most prevalent form of litter in England, making up 68% of all littered items and found on around 80% of surveyed sites.

Cleaning up littered cigarette butts currently costs UK local authorities around £40m per year.

Ministers are considering making the tobacco industry pay for the full disposal costs of tobacco waste products through a regulatory extended producer responsibility scheme for cigarette butts in England. This is a new power currently being legislated for in the Environment Bill.

‘Cigarette butts are a blight on our communities, littering our streets or ending up washed down the drain and polluting our rivers and oceans,’ said environment minister Rebecca Pow.

‘We must all take action to protect our environment. We are committed to making sure that the tobacco industry plays its part.

‘That is why we are exploring how cigarette companies can be held fully accountable for the unsightly scourge of litter created by their products.’

LGOF: Will it work? image

LGOF: Will it work?

Dr Jonathan Carr-West, LGIU, discusses the Local Government Outcomes Framework (LGOF), the latest instalment in the history of local government accountability.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

YPSA SUPPORT WORKER

Oxfordshire County Council
£37035 - £39513
About UsThe Young Perso... Oxford
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council

ATV Anchor Educational Psychologist

Oxfordshire County Council
£49789 - £57954
About UsATV Anchor team... Reading
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council

Service Director of Transformation and ICT

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
£95,000 - £110,000
Sandwell’s story is one of potential and striving to realise the ambitions of our borough, our residents and communities. Sandwell, West Midlands
Recuriter: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Chief People Officer

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
£95,000 - £110,000
Sandwell’s story is one of potential and striving to realise the ambitions of our borough, our residents and communities. Sandwell, West Midlands
Recuriter: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Service Director – Communications and Strategy

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
£95,000 - £110,000
Sandwell’s story is one of potential and striving to realise the ambitions of our borough, our residents and communities. Sandwell, West Midlands
Recuriter: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
Linkedin Banner