Hamilton plans to tackle cigarette litter with city-wide clean up event

Published May 30, 2023 at 3:06 pm

Picture Credit: Kathy-Marchen-Wellington

If you don’t like seeing cigarette butts around the city, you can help clean them up.

The City of Hamilton recently announced a city-wide cigarette butt clean-up event.

According to the city, cigarette butts are composed of approximately 12,000 non-biodegradable plastic microfibers (very small thread-like fibres that can come from both natural and synthetic fabrics), known as cellulose acetate that pose a significant environmental threat as they never break down. They are negatively impacting drinking water sources, wildlife, and overall ecosystem health, according to the City.

To help control cigarette butt litter, the City is hosting a ‘Butt Blitz’ this Saturday (June 3) between 10 am and 2 pm and is asking community members to get involved.

On Saturday, June 3, join us, @HamIntlVillage, @DwntwnHamBIA, @ConcessionBIA, @agreenerfuture and @Green_Venture for the Hamilton Butt Blitz – a community cleanup of cigarette butts. Learn more and register: https://t.co/xfnAQgEZY9 #HamOnt pic.twitter.com/XwAmO35vQj

— City of Hamilton (@cityofhamilton) May 30, 2023

With a total of seven cleanup and drop-off locations, the designated sites include the Concession St. BIA at 534 Concession St, the Downtown Hamilton BIA Office at Unit 104, 20 Hughson St. S., the International Village BIA at 195 Main St. E., and Green Venture, which has four separate cleanup locations.