Litter warning to smoke-free Belfast

Extra litter wardens are being drafted in by Belfast City Council to cope with the expected increase in cigarette litter when Northern Ireland goes smoke-free this April.

At a meeting of Belfast City Council last night, members agreed to recruit three additional litter wardens for a one year period to address the anticipated upsurge in on-street littering, particularly outside the city’s restaurants, pubs and clubs.

Sam Skimin, head of Belfast City Council’s Cleansing Services, said: “Many offices across Belfast have already introduced a smoke-free policy with employees going outside for smoke breaks.

“Unfortunately this is placing a significant burden on Cleansing Services because smokers aren’t binning their butts. We know from experiences in Scotland, which went smoke-free last March, that there will be a sharp rise in cigarette litter once the Order is introduced in Belfast on April 30.”

Mr Skimin continued: “Our street cleansing staff are already working very hard to keep our city streets clean and these additional staff will support their efforts. We issued over 1,500 £50 fines last year for littering. Once the smoke-free legislation is in place we will take a proactive and targeted approach to cigarette litter and will be issuing fines to those who flout the law.”

Council officers have been speaking to businesses throughout the city to encourage good practice and housekeeping arrangements to deal with increased litter outside their premises.

Belfast City Council has organised a series of 50 seminars for businesses to find out more about their responsibilities under the Smoking (NI) Order.

The new law will affect most businesses across Northern Ireland including factories, offices, bars and restaurants as well as work vehicles and public transport. The law will also apply to enclosed spaces such as community and church halls, sports centres, shopping centres and schools.

Details of the seminars, which begin on February 19, and other useful information for businesses, can be found on the council’s website, on www.belfastcity.gov.uk/smokefree

(EF)