Who would win in a fight – a Kangaroo or an Emu?

You’ll find this question now featured on the new Ballot Bins intended to motivate staff and students to consider the impact their cigarette butts have on the environment. The user ‘votes’ by choosing one of two slots to dispose of their cigarette butt, and a public opinion poll is generated as old butts pile up on either side.

The trial has been organised in conjunction with Keep Victoria Beautiful by MQ Sustainability PACE student Kerstin Siegmund who was able to use her human geography and environmental management knowledge to identify and create innovative successful solutions to the issue. In a survey of Macquarie University staff and students about the awareness of environmental impact of cigarette litter, there was a general lack of understanding with one respondent stating: “smokers do not view their butts as litter in the way they see papers, wrappers, cans, bottles and other items as litter”.

Kerstin felt that the voting ashtrays would jolt people out of their normal littering routine and create a positive impact on the local environment around the smoking zone. Designed by environmental charity Hubbub, the ballot bins have been tested in the UK with a 46 per cent reduction in cigarette butt litter in smoking areas.

“The idea is that the ballot bins are engaging rather than just functional, and create awareness of the litter issue associated with cigarette butts” said Kerstin.

Did you know?

• Cigarette filters are composed of cellulose acetate – a plastic
• Cigarette butts take up to 12 months to decompose in fresh water, and up to five years in seawater
• Wildlife is harmed through accidental ingestion of cigarette litter
• Toxic chemicals can leach from cigarette butts into waterways
• NSW cigarette litter fines range from $80 to $450
• Butts remain a fire hazard as they can smoulder for up to three hours after being dropped.

Do you have a burning question? Propose a Ballot Bin Poll by emailing the Sustainability team.