The perennial problem of discarded cigarette butts is once again being highlighted by council. Not only do they make the city look untidy, but they wash into waterways - and take years to break down.
It seems that a curious mind set has taken hold when it comes to smoking.
On the one hand, restrictions are being relentlessly imposed on where smoking is permissible - and at the same time bins for the safe disposal of cigarette butts are disappearing.
It used to be a normal sight to see groups of people standing outside office buildings sharing a smoke. In many cases, they now congregate a distance away because of proximity smoking bans. Not only has a bin for butts disappeared from outside those buildings - no new bins are appearing where smoking is happening.
It seems we can not have it both ways. If smoking is a legal activity - and we want a clean city free of unsightly cigarette butts on the ground - then it would be reasonable to provide a disposal bin where smokers congregate.
If we fail to provide this because we think it encourages smoker - then we have to put up with the inevitable mess that follows.
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