We have introduced ‘ballot bins’ within the town centres of Stourport, Bewdley and Kidderminster, in an effort to change cigarette littering behaviour across the district.20190625Ballot Bins

Surveys have shown that cigarette litter is England’s most common type of litter, being present on over 79% of our streets.

Our ballot bins are customisable ashtray bins, which use a voting system to encourage people to use them. Posing fun questions like ‘who’s your favourite superhero?’, the bins allow users to vote for their preferred answer by popping their cigarette butt into one of the two containers.

By providing a new solution in targeted areas, it is hoped that the introduction of these bright yellow ballot bins will reduce smoking related litter in the long term.

Councillor John Thomas, Wyre Forest District Council’s cabinet member for operational services said: “It is great to see these ballot bins in littering hotspots across the district.

“We hope that by engaging with smokers in this innovative way, we can encourage them to make responsible choices about how they dispose of their cigarette butts and help us keep the district safe, clean and looking good.”

(Picture shows from left to right: Councillor John Thomas, Wyre Forest District Council’s cabinet member for operational services and Sarah Davis, place coordinator)