It is always good to see organisations take the initiative and tackle the issue of butt littering in a pro-active way.

That's exactly what's been happening recently at the Canberra Institute of Technology.  The Student Association (CITSA) took the time to contact Butt Free Australia back in late 2010 to discuss how they could help address the issue of butt littering.

Since then CITSA have used the 'Not a Good Look' resources to highlight the need for the responsible disposal of butts.

At its most recent high profile event, SHAG Week held 4-7 April, the 'Not a Good Look' message was out there for all to see. The personal ashtrays were a particuar hit with the students!

Keep up the good work CITSA and here's to a Butt FREE campus.

Date: 8 April 2011

Sydneysiders and visitors alike will see the 'Not a Good Look' messsage on high profile supersites shortly.

Commencing on Monday 28 March, over a two month period, eleven billboards will carry the 'Not a Good Look' message in prominent locations such as Homebush Bay, Parramatta Road, O'Riordan Street Mascot, the M4, Wentworth Drive Eastlakes as well as inbound on Broadway in the heart of Sydney.

Some will feature real people, in real life situations, inappropriately disposing of their butts and a reminder to 'PLEASE BUTT IT, THEN BIN IT'.  Others will simply highlight the campaign message - 'Butt Littering. It's Not a Good Look'.

The supersites are just part of the overall 'Not a Good Look' campaign aimed at putting personal responsibility at the forefront of the butt littering issue.  Look out for further activity in Brisbane & Melbourne over the coming months.

To find out more about the impacts of butt littering, or to obtain a free personal ashtray, go to www.notagoodlook.com.au.

Date: 23 March 2011

Butt Free Australia can't help but endorse the recent comments by the Sunshine Coast Council that they would prefer that Clean Up Day didn't need to happen! 

According to Environment Portfolio Councillor Keryn Jones "While I give 100% support to Clean Up Australia Day, I can't help thinking how much effort goes on fixing a problem that doesn't need to exist in the first place".

A fundamental message in all of the Sunshine Coast's waste education work is that every individual is responsible for the waste they generate - and it's only when we all embrace this message that we can achieve real results.

That's the same message of Butt Free Australia's 'Not a Good Look' campaign. Every one individual is responsible for how they dispose of their butt!  There would be no butt litter problem if butts were simply disposed of correctly.  A small action that makes a big difference.

Excuses such as 'it's only little', 'they break down' or the popular 'there are no bins' just don't cut it. Make the effort to find a bin or carry a personal ashtray.

To find out more about the impacts of butt litter and obtain a free personal ashtray go to www.notagoodlook.com.au

Clean Up Day, the largest community involvement event in Australia kicks off today with Business Clean up Day, followed by Schools Clean Up Day on Friday, then the big one, Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday 6 March.  To find out more visit www.cleanup.org.au

Blog: 1 Mar 2011

'It Starts With Me' is a short film highlighting one woman's story of doing 20 minute beach clean-ups with a focus on counting cigarette butts.

In just 9 days Danille, with the help of her husband and 3 children, collected 2,937 cigarette butts from Wrightsville Beach, NC. That's an average of 326 butts per day or 16 per minute!

Danille was originally inspired by her friend Sara, who writes The Daily Ocean Blog. She now has her own Our Daily Ocean blog that tells her story since her quest began back in August 2010.

The short film, directed by Destin Cretton, was a winner at the recent Brita FilterforGood Film Project at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.  It's well worth a look.

Danille's philosophy is simple. What we do (or don't do) has an impact on the world we live in. It starts with me and ripples to you....

Blog: 17 Feb 2011

Recent ammendments to Tasmania's litter laws now mean that boat owners are liable for littering from their boats.

In announcing the changes Brian Weightman -- Minister for Environment, Parks and Heritage -- acknowledged that as well as being unsightly, litter in waterways poses a threat to the marine environment.

It comes as no surprise to Butt Free Australia that cigarette butts, along with discarded fishing gear and plastic bags, were named by the Minister as just some of the items that should not be thrown overboard but collected and disposed of appropriately on-shore.

Cigarette butts are often found in the stomachs of fish, birds and other marine animals who mistake them for food, instead swallowing harmful plastic and toxic chemicals.

With an estimated one in ten butts littered in streets already ending up in our rivers, bays and waterways, the last thing needed is people dropping butts over the side of their boat!

Butt Free Australia congratulates the Tasmanian government on this important initiative.

Members of the public can report a littering offence online at www.environment.tas.gov.au/litter

or by phoning the Litter Hotline on 1300 135 513.

(You will require the registered number of name of the vessel that committed the offence)

Blog: 4 Feb 2011