Fewer people smoking, but more butts collected: Downtown Vancouver BIA
The Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association's clean-up crew focused its efforts on picking up discarded cigarette butts and collected 75 pounds' worth within the span of three weeks.
Joshua Davidson, interim director of operations for Downtown Van, said the public needs to be aware that cigarette butts can stick around for up to 25 years.
“It's not just paper. It's not just going to disintegrate with the rain. They're going to stay around,” he said. “Most of these butts end up on the floor, making our city feel not as clean, not as safe. And many end up in our water systems, into the ocean. It’s extremely toxic to aquatic life.”
The BIA did something similar in 2019, when its clean team members picked up 57 pounds' worth of butts over the course of one month.
Yet, there are fewer smokers now than before. According to the University of Waterloo, the B.C. smoking rate in 2017 was 15.6 per cent. In 2020, it dropped to 7.7 per cent.
“We need more receptacles to collect cigarette butts properly," Davidson said.
In an email to CTV News, the city said there are about 40 cigarette butt receptacles in the downtown area.
It has been piloting various bins and is continuing to test new models.
City Coun. Peter Meiszer lives downtown and fumes when he sees discarded butts.
“I find it very frustrating. I don't like seeing litter anywhere in our beautiful city and I know that it's our BIAs working as hard as they can – as well as city crews – to clean it up. But (I'm) just really, really hoping that people will take a moment, you know, have pride in our city and do what they can to ensure that it's litter free and beautiful for everybody to enjoy,” he told CTV News.
He said the city sees an annual average of 71 fires sparked by discarded butts, warning it is a fire risk, in addition to the environmental impacts.
The city is providing free pocket ashtrays at various locations to encourage smokers to keep their butts rather than throwing them on the ground.
LITTER OF VAPES GOING UP
The BIA clean team is also seeing discarded vaping material.
“Interestingly, with vaping on the rise, we're finding lots of disposable batteries and vapes. So, that's really it's creeping up behind the cigarette butts,” Davidson said. “Many vapes these days, the affordable ones are disposable, so there's no real incentive to buy it and (reuse), including adding the oil. They're just being thrown away.”
He said there may soon be a pilot program to address this issue.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Board orders deportation for trucker in horrific Humboldt Broncos crash
The truck driver who caused the horrific bus crash involving the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team has been ordered to be deported.
Community mourns victims of fatal boat crash near Kingston, Ont.
The three people killed in last weekend's tragic collision between a speedboat and a fishing boat north of Kingston are being remembered Friday.
A woman took her dog to a shelter to be euthanized. A year later, the dog is up for adoption again
Exhausted and short on options after consulting two veterinary clinics, Kristie Pereira made the gut-wrenching decision last year to take her desperately ill puppy to a Maryland shelter to be euthanized.
Group tied to Islamic State plotted fatal Ontario restaurant shooting: Crown
A gunman who is accused of killing a young Ontario man and shooting four of his family members at their small Mississauga restaurant in 2021 was allegedly part of a trio who had pledged allegiance to the listed terrorist group Islamic State, a Crown attorney said in an opening statement in the Brampton murder trial this week.
'A really bad car crash': Why health experts are raising concerns over surging syphilis cases
A sexually transmitted infection (STI) that was once thought to be a thing of the past is now a public health priority for North American doctors.
Purolator truck drivers from Guelph, Ont. save man walking in Hwy. 407 lanes
A pair of Purolator transport truck drivers from Guelph, Ont. are being hailed as heroes for their efforts in helping a person in crisis.
Trudeau responds to American senators calling on Canada to increase defence spending
Stopping short of offering the assurance U.S. senators are seeking, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government is aware there's more work to do in order to see Canada meet NATO's defence spending target.
Toddler dies after being struck by recycling truck in Barrie, Ont. neighbourhood
A toddler has died after being struck by a recycling truck in a Barrie, Ont. neighbourhood on Thursday afternoon.
Milk sold in Canadian grocery stores tested for avian influenza; results released
As avian flu spreads south of the border, Canadian officials are now testing samples of milk sold in grocery stores across the country.