Keep Greenville County Beautiful and Greenlink

Keep Greenville County Beautiful and Greenlink

Set Sights on Cigarette Butt Litter

"Don't Flick It" Campaign is Underway

Greenville, SC (Sept. 4, 2014) ? Keep Greenville County Beautiful and Greenlink are taking action to help address America's and Greenville County's number one litter issue- improperly discarded cigarette butts.

"The `Don't Flick It' campaign provides the tools needed to snuff out obnoxious cigarette butt litter," says Eric Vinson, Keep Greenville County Beautiful. KGCB and partner, Greenlink Transit, have purchased and placed "ash receptacles" at bus shelters in all areas of the city of Greenville, and the County. The campaign is supported by prominent advertisements placed on and in Greenlink vehicles. This campaign identifies the problem and also provides the solution.

"Keep Greenville County Beautiful secured grant funding to support this important project," says Vinson. "By partnering with Greenlink, we are able to implement a method of litter reduction that has proven itself effective time and time again."

In addition to raising awareness through advertising, Greenlink officials say they believe that the placing of ash receptacles at its bus shelters and stops will raise the campaign's visibility even more. "We are happy to do our part to discourage littering across the county," said Greenlink Director Mark Rickards.

Vinson emphasizes that this campaign also has the support of the area's private and public sectors. The program's strategic approach involves all stakeholders in the cigarette litter problem, including Greenville County, City of Greenville, Greenlink, Greater Greenville Sanitation Commission, City of Travelers Rest, K-Mart, Greenville County Soil & Water Conservation District, and Palmetto Pride.

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The Keep America Beautiful, Inc. Cigarette Litter Prevention Program tackles the issue by integrating four proven approaches: ? encouraging enforcement of litter laws, including cigarette litter; ? raising awareness about the issue using public service messages; ? placing ash receptacles at transition points such as bus shelters; ? distributing pocket ashtrays to adult smokers.

In 2010, nearly 240 communities reported an average 42% reduction in littered butts as a result of implementing the program. Tobacco products (including cigarette butts) are the most-littered item in America, representing nearly 38% of all items according to "Litter in America," the Keep America Beautiful, Inc. Landmark 2009 study of litter and littering behavior. Th is research also showed that individuals who would never litter items such as beverage cans or paper packaging may not consider tossing cigarette butts on the ground "littering."

The mission of Keep Greenville County Beautiful is to engage citizens in litter reduction and beautification through public awareness, education and special events. Keep Greenville County Beautiful is an non-profit organization committed to its public and private partnerships including business, industry, governmental agencies, civic groups, neighborhood associations and non-profit organizations. Keep Greenville County Beautiful is recognized by Keep America Beautiful, Inc.

Keep America Beautiful, Inc., established in 1953, is the nation's largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. With a network of over 1,200 affiliates and participating organizations, Keep America Beautiful, Inc. forms public-private partnerships and programs that engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environments. To learn more about Keep America Beautiful, Inc. go to or keepgreenvillecountybeautiful. org.

For Immediate Release Contact: Eric Vinson Keep Greenville County Beautiful 864-467-7281 evinson@

Contact: Kathy Vass Greenlink 864-298-2756 kvass@

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