Reducing Smoking Related Litter:

Transcription

1 Reducing Smoking Related Litter: A Business Environmental Charter for the City of London Cleansing Services, Department of the Built Environment

2 Contents [Ctrl + Click an item to jump to that section] Part 1 Smoking related litter What is the problem? 3 What is the Business Environmental Charter? 3 Who is the Business Environmental Charter for? 3 What are the benefits to your business? 4 Signing up to the Business Environmental Charter 5 After you have signed up 5 What the City of London can do for you 5 Reducing smoking related litter - Solutions 6 What the law says about litter 7 How to comply with the law 7 Other initiatives in the City of London 8 Further sources of information 8 Disclaimer 8 Part 2 Sign up now to the Business Environmental Charter for 9 reducing smoking related litter 2 Business Environmental Charter

3 Part 1 Smoking Related Litter What is the problem? Cigarette butts are the most littered item in England. In the City alone, it is estimated that 123,000 cigarette butts are dropped on the streets every day. Not only do they degrade the appearance of the area, they are detrimental to the environment because they contaminate water supplies and pose a serious fire risk. On 1 July 2007 England introduced Smokefree Legislation to make all enclosed public places and workplaces smokefree. In the Square Mile, this includes the historic Leadenhall Market and Smithfield Market. Dropping cigarette butts is defined as littering and as such, carries an onthe-spot fine of up to 80. In the City, Street Environment Officers, Police Community Support Officers and Market Constables in Smithfield Market actively enforce the law by fining offenders. What is the Business Environmental Charter? The Business Environmental Charter is an entirely voluntary agreement between your business and the City of London Corporation. It provides a framework for businesses to identify how, when and where smoking related litter problems are arising, and to work in partnership with the City of London to resolve these issues. Who is the Business Environmental Charter for? The Environmental Charter is for any business in the City, large or small, which through its operations or staff may produce smoking related litter. By signing up to the Charter, your business is demonstrating a commitment to reducing the level of smoking related litter on the City streets and keeping the environment a clean and safe place to work, live and visit. 3 Business Environmental Charter

4 What are the benefits to your business? Signing up to the Business Environmental Charter provides you with the following benefits: Clean public spaces attract custom. The quality of public space matters to everyone including businesses. Cigarette ends and other items discarded as litter degrade the perception of a business and will reduce trade. Businesses are, in part, responsible for managing this issue. Helping you improve the health of your employees. Hackney Primary Care Trust offer free support and advice on quitting smoking for City of London residents and workers. Drop-in clinics are listed on the City of London website Demonstrating good practice. Businesses are powerful role models to customers they can make a real difference by setting a strong example for instance, by displaying a poster to encourage customers and employees not to litter. Statutory obligations. Businesses are obliged to keep their land clear of litter and manage their trade waste. Legislation is available to local authorities to serve notice on those businesses that create excess litter, requiring that they clean up to 100m either side of their business. Local agreements are best. The Business Environmental Charter sets standards for different business types to make voluntary arrangements with the City of London Corporation that enable everyone to play their part in pledging to keep the environment clean and tidy. Recognising Best Practice. City of London businesses, large and small, are invited to enter the Clean City Awards. The Clean City Awards Scheme rewards businesses that manage their waste responsibly. For more information about the scheme, visit Responsible business. Businesses in the Square Mile have the opportunity to sponsor a butt bin post and help us to reduce smoking related litter. Speak to one of our Street Enforcement Officers on Business Environmental Charter

5 Signing up to the Business Environmental Charter Signing up is easy. At the end of this document you will find a short checklist to complete. Return the checklist at the end of this document, together with your contact details and a Street Environment Officer from the City of London will review it. After you have signed up Our Street Environment Officers may make an arrangement to meet with you informally to discuss a set of minimum standards to achieve. Street Environment Officers can also provide: Group education sessions to staff on stopping smoking Information and advice on positioning butt bins around your premises Offering portable butt bins as an alternative to littering Planned and ad hoc enforcement activities What the City of London can do for you As part of the Charter, the City s Street Environment Officers can: Offer free advice and assistance with tackling smoking related litter. Discuss with you any issues raised by the checklist and help you in finding solutions to smoking related litter around your premises. Ensure that all City of London streets are part of a cleaning schedule. Any recommendations made as a result of the Business Environmental Charter are suggestions only. This is a voluntary agreement, and as a business you will only ever be asked to do what is reasonable and achievable. 5 Business Environmental Charter

6 Reducing Smoking Related Litter - Solutions Businesses that fail to maintain a clean and litter-free area around their premises are potentially subject to heavy financial penalties. Here are some ideas for reducing smoking related litter: Installing adequate numbers of cigarette bins around the business premises Putting posters up in windows to discourage customers from smoking Running internal anti-littering campaigns Providing portable ashtrays to customers and staff Keeping the premises and surrounding area clean by having regular clean-ups and sweeping whenever necessary Communicate with employees and work with them to produce a smokefree policy or code of conduct Encourage and foster a litter conscious attitude amongst staff Providing information on free Stop Smoking drop-in sessions 6 Business Environmental Charter

7 What the law says about litter In general, litter is defined as anything that is dropped, thrown, left or deposited that causes defacement, in a public place that is found discarded onto public streets or open spaces. This includes smoking related litter arising from occasions when employees congregate outside to smoke on the highway or public land. The City of London can issue the following notices: Street Litter Control Notice - Section 93 Environmental Protection Act 1990 If there is a lot of cigarette litter on the street outside of your premises you could be issued with this notice. This requires the owner or occupier of the premises to keep the front of the premises, plus a reasonable distance either side clear of litter. Litter Clearing Notice - Clean Neighbourhood Act 2005 Excessive litter on your premises could result in your business being issued with a Litter Clearing Notice. This requires the owner or occupier to clear the land of litter. Fixed Penalty Notice - Section 87 Environmental Protection Act 1990 Your staff and customers could be subject to a fixed penalty notice if witnessed dropping cigarette litter on the street outside your premises. How to comply with the law Businesses must make sure people don t smoke in enclosed work premises or shared vehicles display no smoking signs in all workplaces and vehicles Fines and penalties Businesses can be fined up to 2,500 if they don t stop people smoking in the workplace or up to 1,000 if they don t display no smoking signs. Penalty for smoking in the workplace Workers can be fined up to Business Environmental Charter

8 Other initiatives in the City of London Clean City Awards Scheme This prestigious award is open to all businesses in the Square Mile. Information about the Clean City Award Scheme can be found on the City of London website at Sustainable City Awards Most responsible organisations now understand that sustainability lies at the heart of long-term business success and the Sustainable City Awards aim to recognise and reward best practice in this rapidly developing arena. Find out more about the award scheme at Further sources of information Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Keep Britain Tidy r/default.aspx Reducing Smoking Related Litter: A Guide for Businesses SmokeFree England For guidance and signage Disclaimer This document can only serve as a guide to, and synopsis of the law relating to waste and litter. It does not constitute legal advice. It may be misleading if relied upon as a complete explanation of the legal issues involves. If any matter is to be acted upon, the full texts of part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and relevant statutory instruments must be consulted. 8 Business Environmental Charter

9 Part 2 Business Environmental Charter Checklist Do you already have cigarette bins installed around the premises? Yes No If yes, tell us how many and where they are Are more cigarette bins required? Yes No If yes, where could these be positioned? For example, specific hot spots around the premises where smoking related litter is deposited Who is causing the smoking related litter? (Tick any that apply) Members of the public Customers or Staff from your business Customers or staff from nearby businesses Apart from installing ashtrays, what else does the business currently do to reduce litter? Clean front and/or rear of premises Display No Smoking signs around the premises Display anti-litter posters in windows Distribute corporate guidelines or policies specific to smoking Distribute information to staff on NHS Smoking Cessation support Distribute information to staff about penalties of dropping litter Other (please specify) 9 Business Environmental Charter

10 Contact details Business name Business address Contact Name telephone number Position Signed Date Thank you for signing up to the Business Environmental Charter. Please return the checklist together with your contact details to: Or by post to: Cleansing Services 3 rd Floor, Walbrook Wharf Upper Thames Street London EC4R 3TD One of our Street Environment Officers will contact you soon to discuss any requirements you have for reducing smoking related litter around your business premises. If you have any queries, please call our team of Street Environment Officers on Business Environmental Charter