ButtFREE projects are designed to help people change their butt littering behaviour.
ButtFREE Solutions enable projects to be tailored to foster correct disposal of cigarette butts relevant to where they are being littered.
Each ButtFREE Solution needs to be considered as each has an influence on behaviour. While consideration of all Solutions is essential, as you read through the Toolkit you will better understand butt littering in your area, and which Solution will require greater focus.
The ButtFREE Solutions are described in detail in the Toolkit sections and have been built into generic project planning elements such as those in sections: Measure, Assess and Evaluate. The Solutions are outlined below to provide a big picture of the ButtFREE approach:
ButtFREE Solutions
Context
Butt littering behaviour (when, where and how people litter) and how to manage it will differ depending on where or in what 'context' it is happening. Each of the other Solutions will require a different approach depending on the context.
Awareness
Increasing awareness of the impacts of butt littering with the public, raises the perceived importance of the issue and is a very important element of behaviour change. The long term goal is to create an ongoing expectation or social pressure on litterers to bin butts until the behaviour becomes the 'social norm'. Messages need to be simple, non-judgemental and positive to avoid disengaging audiences. They must also be followed by a consistent request, or 'call to action', such as that used by ButtFREE projects: PLEASE BUTT IT, THEN BIT IT®.
Education
Face-to-face education raises the awareness of the impacts of butt littering while addressing the attitudes and perceptions of litterers in a personal, positive and non-confrontational way. Education also provides a motivation for change while presenting an opportunity to ask for a commitment or pledge to that change. Social research has proven it to be the most effective method in behavioural change.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure provides an essential means for people to dispose of their butts – in butt bins or personal ashtrays. It encourages the desired behaviour of correctly disposing of butts by making it convenient and easy.
Enforcement
Enforcement is an important element to support behaviour change. Naturally enforcement is not popular, but it can deter those who otherwise don't heed the simple and friendly ButtFREE messages.
Action – Big Picture Plan
- Download the Butt Free Project plan EXAMPLE below as an indication of what your final plan will include.
Downloads
Section
Big Picture Plan Section (coming soon)
Tools
ButtFREE Project plan EXAMPLE (84 KB)
Resources