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Cigarette bins used as UEFA European football ballot boxes, Dover and Deal

17:00, 07 June 2021

updated: 17:41, 07 June 2021

Smokers can give their views on England's chances in the European soccer cup - and dispose of their fag ends properly.

Two special cigarette bins have been put up, which double up as split ballot boxes.

A cigarette ballot bin in Dover's Market Square. Picture: Dover District Council
A cigarette ballot bin in Dover's Market Square. Picture: Dover District Council

People can put their used butts in a yes or no compartment to answer the question: "Do you think England can win the Euros."

It is in readiness for the UEFA European Championship, which starts this Friday.

The bins, at Market Square, Dover, and the promenade by the Beach Street car park in Deal, have been temporarily put up by Dover District Council.

This is for the duration of the Great British Spring Clean campaign, which continues until Sunday.

DDC enforcement officers, who are out and about, will also have 1,000 cigarette pouches to give away to local residents, to encourage the responsible disposal of their cigarette litter.

Cigarette ends are the number one form of litter in this country
Cigarette ends are the number one form of litter in this country

The Great British Spring Clean is hosted by Keep Britain Tidy, as a national campaign on a #MillionMileMission to clear discarded rubbish from the country’s streets, parks, beaches and countryside.

Keep Britain Tidy says fag ends are the number one littered item in the country.

A spokesman said: "Cigarette butts are small, smelly, sometimes on fire and commonplace on the ground.

" Even smokers don’t like them much and together these little butts add up to a very big problem."

Smokers will often throw their stubs down the drain, thinking that they are helping to keep the streets clean, But harmful particles can wash up into the sea and poison sea life.

The ballot is also to get smokers to dispose of their cigarette ends responsibly. Picture: Sam Lennon
The ballot is also to get smokers to dispose of their cigarette ends responsibly. Picture: Sam Lennon

Cllr Nick Kenton, DDC's cabinet member for regulatory services, said: “We are pleased to be supporting the Great British Spring Clean with this fun initiative to encourage smokers to bin their butts.

"The council spends £1.5 million a year on street cleansing, and cigarette butts are a real problem.

"Smokers can really help by stubbing them out and binning them and we hope that this campaign will help get the message across.”

Schools, businesses and community groups are being encouraged to do their bit for the Great British Spring Clean.

Residents can also organise their own litter picks via DDC’s website dover.gov.uk/gbsc

Covid guidelines will be followed, with hand sanitiser and gloves available.

England play their first game, from 2pm on Sunday, against Croatia, who knocked them out of the 2018 World Cup.

The European tournament ends on Sunday, July 11.

Read more: All the latest news from Dover

uefa ends jul 11

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