‘Holland Clean’ combats butts and chewing gum in public transportation!

Today ‘Holland Clean’ takes a major step in the battle against cigarette butts and chewing gum on the streets, which comprises 95% of litter in our country. With the behavioral change campaign ‘No bin available, keep it with you’, the organization reminds the public that it is also possible to keep small litter with you, when there’s no trash bin or ashtray available.

At a number of train stations in the Netherlands, travelers receive handy gadgets during rush hour, to put cigarette butts and chewing gum wads in. Yesterday a special ashtray ‘The DropPit’, was installed at bus stops in Leusden as part of this program.

Chewing gum under chairs or on the ground, it is one of those nuisances that goes from generation to generation. Also cigarettes butts on the streets ruin the streets scene for many people. Per year 10 billion butts and 800 million chewing gum wads end up on the streets. Especially public transportation areas are heavily littered with cigarette butts and chewing gums on the platforms, approach and waiting areas and (bus)-stops,

Innovation

‘The Netherlands’ is actually a beautiful and clean country.  According to objective surveys results it even achieves a 7.7 score for a clean living environment. Everybody contributes to this result in their own way. However, there is still room for improvement. “This is why ‘Holland Clean’ stimulates and supports innovation at companies, local authorities and managers of real estate” states Mr. Uli Schnier, director of the organisation. The Gumbin is a good example: special packaging in which used pieces of chewing gum can be put back. Also special, trendy pocket ashtrays, also known as Barkedera’s, are an excellent alternative for for throwing cigarette butts on the ground.

The third weapon to battle small litter, The DropPit, is a mini waste-container for cigarette butts and chewing gum. Today the first DropPits are installed at a bus stop in Leusden. Initiator ‘Brouwer & Partners’ intends to install The DropPit at another 30 bus stops in Leusden in the weeks to come.

“This is only the beginning of what is a comprehensive program we intend to roll out in the Netherlands”, says Arnoud Ongerboer de Visser, member of the board of directors of Japan Tobacco International The Netherlands. “It’s a great initiative to combat cigarette butt littering. Nowadays we see an increase of butt littering. This is caused, amongst others, by the indoor smoking ban in hotels, restaurants and bars, in public transport and in public buildings and offices. We consider this an issue that demands a collective sense of responsibility as well as a collective approach. We are doing our share by supporting these innovative initiatives”.

Source: Website Stichting Nederland Schoon