Hidden problem: Cigarette butts clog city drains

While smoking can lead to a myriad of serious health problems, few associate the bad habit with clogging up storm drains. However, that is just what is happening in the city of Bluefield.

City officials estimate that 32 percent of all litter removed or found in city drains is from cigarettes. According to the city, approximately 95 percent of cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate, a type of plastic that takes years to degrade.

The problem of cigarette butts in storm drains is becoming a big concern for the Bluefield Sanitary Board, according to Melanie Farmer, a community relations coordinator for the city.

That’s why city officials are launching a new campaign aimed at helping to alleviate the clogged drain problem.

The city was recently awarded a grant from the Keep America Beautiful Cigarette Litter Prevention program that will allow for the purchase of cigarette butt receptacles while also funding a public awareness campaign. The new receptacles will be placed throughout downtown Bluefield with the hope that those who smoke will place their cigarette butts in the containers, and not in city storm drains.

That’s why the public educational campaign will be necessary. If residents aren’t properly informed about the receptacles, they won’t know to dump their cigarette butts in them. And even once citizens are informed of the new receptacles being placed across the city, some smokers may still need a little bit of nudging or motivation to properly dispose of their cigarette butts.

According to Farmer, Princeton Avenue and Chicory Square are two locations where cigarette litter has been particularly problematic.

City Manager Andy Merriman said the ultimate goal of the campaign is to promote a “clean, healthy and beautiful” Bluefield.

It is our hope that area residents will help the city out by making use of the new cigarette butt receptacles. These are, after all, being provided as a convenience to those who smoke.

Cigarette butts shouldn’t be dropped in storm drains. That only causes additional problems. When storm water drains become clogged up, it will mean additional manpower, time and cost to the city to keep the storm drains cleared.

We urge all area residents who smoke to make use of the new cigarette receptacles. While the easy thing to do may be to drop your cigarette butts on the ground, it isn’t the right thing to do.