No butts about it, you’ve bin warned

SMOKERS are being told to bin their butts or risk being fined for littering outside licensed venues after the introduction of statewide smoking bans.
Greater Dandenong City Council and local pubs and clubs are gearing up for an increase in butt litter when smoking in licensed venues is banned from 1 July.
Council law enforcement staff will be on the lookout for people dropping cigarette butts outside licensed venues.
Greater Dandenong mayor Youhorn Chea has urged smokers to bin their butts or risk an on-the-spot fine.
Smokers who don’t dispose of cigarette butts correctly can expect a $107 fine for littering an extinguished butt or a $215 fine if their cigarette is still burning.
Cr Chea said the purpose of the blitz was to keep the shire as clean as possible.
“Cigarette butts are already the most littered item in Victoria, responsible for 56 per cent of our total litter problem, and the statistics are set to soar after 1 July unless we bin our butts,” he said.
“Council and local venues are working hard to ensure bin facilities are available, but smokers are encouraged to carry their own butt disposal container.
“That way, smokers can be sure they’ll never get caught short.”