Georgia, a state known for beautiful mountains and bustling cities, is also recognized for its sandy beaches and lakes. Despite the natural beauty, however, visitors who find themselves walking the shores of coastal Georgia may catch a glimpse of a cigarette butt or two.
This is why Keep Golden Isles Beautiful, a nonprofit organization committed to keeping Georgia’s six coastal counties clean, has launched a three-month initiative: “Georgia’s Coast is Not an Ashtray”.
Just in time for Memorial Day weekend crowds, the cigarette litter awareness project intends to decrease, and someday put an end to, the littering of cigarette butts. According to Keep America Beautiful — the organization funding the program with a $15,000 grant — cigarettes are the most frequently littered item in America, making up 32 percent of all littered items collected.
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Lea King-Badyna, Keep Golden Isles Beautiful executive director, says the program is focusing on the littering of cigarettes, which can be found everywhere, specifically at stoplights, along roadways or throughout public spaces.
“With so many valuable water sources in coastal Georgia, we are focusing on cigarette butts as they relate to coastal water bodies,” said King-Badyna.
Cigarette butts are made of cellulose acetate, a plastic, which does not easily decompose. When they are thrown into bodies of water, or discarded on land and then blown into storm drains, cigarette butts pose a serious threat to the habitats of marine and aquatic animals.
“Once cigarette butts are wet, they release toxins into the soil and waterways, becoming toxic litter,” King-Badyna said.
Ten entities within the six coastal counties, including the City of Tybee Island and Keep Savannah Beautiful, have united to promote the initiative. The $15,000 grant will go towards placing 81 new cigarette receptacles along the beaches, along with radio announcements signs reminding beach goers about the dangers of cigarette butt litering. Ash trays will be distributed at public boat ramps, fishing piers and around bodies of water.
The initiative will begin in June and end in August.
More than 25,000 messaged drink coasters with reminder messages will be used in restaurants and pubs in coastal areas. Businesses can contact their local entities to request the free drink coasters.
“We aim to positively impact Georgia’s coast regarding cigarette litter and serve as a guidepost for other coastal communities around the nation,” said King-Badyna.
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