Reducing litter

The Yarra Public Health Unit has been very impressed by compliance with the new requirements by both business management and patrons. The required signage is generally being displayed and it appears that smokers are leaving the dining areas to smoke. Early indicators show state wide acceptance of the changes.

Unfortunately, with more people smoking in the streets, cigarette litter is becoming a problem in some areas.

We all have an obligation to reduce this problem

Proprietor responsibility	keep the front of your premises in a clean condition provide rubbish receptacles for cigarette litter dispose of collected waste appropriately i.e. in a bin do not hose down the footpath - waste picked up by the water will go down the storm water drains display 'Attention Smokers' sticker in shop front to highlight smokers responsibility to put litter in the bin. Extra stickers are available from the Public Health Unit on 9205 5166.
Smoker responsibility	put all waste in a bin/container. Failure to do so is an offence under the Litter Act 1987 fines of $100 or $200 (for lit cigarettes) apply
Council responsibility	educate proprietors and patrons of their responsibilities enforce the provisions of the Litter and Tobacco Acts conduct general street cleaning provide, clean and maintain central street litter containers
Waste collection options for proprietors	ash trays on outdoor tables a bin or container with sand - as long as this doesn't obstruct the footpath a cigarette specific container. A number of companies provide installation and maintenance of these units eg. Smoke Zone & Butt Out. For contact details, see Further Information

Business owners with footpath trading licences

Under Council's Footpath Trading Policy and Guidelines:

10.3	The Licensee must maintain the area in a clean condition and clear away any litter, food scraps, cigarette butts and any other rubbish left on the site and deposit it within the operator's own bins kept inside the premises. Private bins cannot be stored on the footpath, and public litter bins are not to be used by the operator for depositing litter.
10.4	The operator must not sweep or deposit any dirt, litter (including cigarette butts), food scraps or any other rubbish left on the side into the gutter and must provide ashtrays for patrons and regularly remove cigarette butts and deposit them within bins kept inside the premises.

To Clarify the Smoke-Free Dining Signage Requirements:

• Signs must be displayed in numbers and positions which clearly allow a person to see one or more of these signs while either entering or whilst within the enclosed restaurant, cafe or dining area.
• Signs are available from the Department of Human Services on 1300 366 356 or alternatively businesses may create their own signs, which comply with the requirements prescribed in the Act. Basically, a sign must have the no-smoking symbol with a diameter of at least 70 millimetres, the phrase "No Smoking" or "Smoking is Prohibited" in letters of at least 20 millimetres in height, and the statement "It is an offence to smoke in an enclosed restaurant, cafe or dining area". There are no stipulated colours or minimum size for the signs.
• Additional no-smoking signs can be displayed as long as they convey by way of graphics, pictures, symbols or text a no-smoking message.
• Please note restaurants that were smoke free before the 1st July still need to display signage in accordance with the regulations.

Retailers should display the following sticker in shopfronts to highlight smokers' responsibility to put litter in the bin:

Contact info:
Smoke Zone Ph 9587 8177
Butt Out Ph 1800 358 258

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Further information

Public Health
C/O Richmond Town Hall
333 Bridge Road
Richmond 3121
Telephone 9205 5166
Email info@yarracity.vic.gov.au

Links

Within this site
Yarra City Councl

External sites (Yarra City Council accepts no responsibility for the information or opinions contained within external sites)
Yarra City Councl

Information supplied by: Electronic communications & design officer - 9205 5214

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