Keep Collingwood Clean has collected one tonne of cigarette butts since forming, and now they’re turning their attention to solving the problem at the source.
It’s earned Collingwood the reputation as the No. 1 cigarette butt collector in all of Canada, according to the non-profit.
As part of council’s regular meeting on June 17, John Doherty of Keep Collingwood Clean provided a deputation on the most common litter the group sees in town, and what the town could do if they wanted to curb litter before it starts.
Doherty brought a large container with butts collected by one person over one hour in Collingwood.
“It is so easy to collect cigarette butts. They are everywhere,” he said.
Solutions proposed by Keep Collingwood Clean included the town offering a cigarette butt recycling program, passing a litter-free bylaw that would apply to business owners, developers and property owners, a smoke-free bylaw to build on the Smoke-Free Ontario Act and a single-use and takeaway bylaw.
Keep Collingwood Clean is a volunteer-run, unregistered organization dedicated to environmental stewardship.
They’re the organization responsible for cigarette disposal containers placed at around 70 different locations across town. Doherty noted during his presentation that Georgian Bay Forever has named cigarette butts as the most common item they collect locally.
“This is the most common form of plastic waste in the world,” said Doherty. “They’re a threat to our Great Lakes, our ecosystem, our food chain, humans and wildlife.”
Doherty said he’d like to see the town add smoke-free language to all its parking lot signage. The organization is requesting the Town of Collingwood set up an account with TerraCycle for the proper disposal of butts.
“Other communities have already started participating in these programs,” said Doherty, pointing to Belleville and London as examples.
Adding a single-use and takeaway items bylaw would help the town reduce fast-food waste at the source. The City of Toronto implemented such a bylaw in March of this year.
“Keep Collingwood Clean would like to see the town adopt these bylaws,” he said. “These bylaws will only work if they’re enforced.”
“Everyone should do their part,” said Doherty.
Following the presentation, Coun. Chris Potts asked who is responsible for making sure that businesses would adhere to any single-use takeaway bylaw.
“We would have to go through public engagement about it. There would have to be an analysis. It’s not an easy thing. We would need support through council for enforcement services to be able to implement such a program,” said town clerk Sara Almas.
Coun. Steve Perry mentioned that he worried about the message it would send to have cigarette recycling bins around town, while also saying there is no smoking allowed on town properties.
“I’m concerned it gives people a false sense of, it’s OK to smoke here,” he said. “It seems like a vicious circle.”
Doherty said receptacles shouldn’t be placed where people aren’t supposed to smoke, and instead they would be placed where people smoke.
“People who smoke are addicted. It’s going to take time,” he said.
Potts said he has plans to work on a motion to bring forward at a later time to councillors regarding the issue.
