Politicians called on to clean-up cigarette butts

A volunteer group says something needs to be done about cigarette butts in Vancouver's West End.

John Merzetti started the West End Clean Up in May 2007 and has been leading monthly cleanings ever since. "Some of our people go out daily, cleaning up their own block or a particular patch of the West End that needs some TLC."

Today, his group is calling on local politicians to help tidy up the neighbourhood. "We want to prove to politicians that this is an issue and that it has to be dealt with."


Merzetti says current smoking rules aren't keeping cigarettes off our streets. "As it is, the law that requires people to smoke six metres from an entrance to a building is ineffective because that puts people in the middle of traffic, in most cases, and it's not enforced."

He adds the problem has worsened over recent years. "Cigarette butts that used to be put in ashtrays in restaurants or on floors in bars are now just being left on the sidewalks and in the gutter."

But Merzetti believes there is one obvious solution. "Ashtrays. It's really as simple as that. Because if you're not going to force people away from smoking where they shouldn't, then you're going to have to provide a receptacle."

All candidates running in next month's civic election have been invited to today clean-up.