-:Undertaker:-
31-01-2015, 12:56 AM
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/11380302/Cigarette-and-chewing-gum-companies-urged-to-help-with-national-spring-clean.html
Cigarette and chewing gum companies urged to help with national spring clean
Ministers have written to the Chancellor George Osborne to urge him to force tobacco companies to pay for cleaning up cigarette butts and packets
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02601/rubbish_2601142b.jpg
Chewing gum companies and fast food outlets should help clean the country’s streets as part of a first ever “national spring clean” to rid areas of litter, ministers have said.
Kris Hopkins, a minister at the Department for Communities and Local Government, said the companies could help the Government on the first ever community clear up day in seven weeks’ time.
It also emerged that Mr Hopkins and his ministerial colleague Dan Rogerson have written to the Chancellor George Osborne to urge him to force tobacco companies to pay for cleaning up cigarette butts and packets, which account for nearly a third of street litter.
Research by Keep Britain Tidy suggests that more than half the population drop litter and the Government is keen to effect "widespread behaviour change" by making dropping litter as unacceptable as drink driving.
The ‘community clear up day’ is being held on Saturday 21 March 2015 – the first day of spring will aim to spruce up the country’s city centres, high streets, villages and parks.
Chewing gum and snack manufacturers and fast food takeways are being urged to take part.
Mr Hopkins said: “This is a call to arms for communities great and small to help us end this litter scourge by taking greater pride in our neighbourhoods.
“It is time to roll up our sleeves and bring the broom back out of the cupboard because by looking after our local areas we can help make them better places to work and live.
“I also urge the manufacturers of items commonly associated with littering – such as soft drinks, chewing gum, crisps, confectionery and fast food – to join us in this day and contribute to the clear up of our streets and public places.
Councils in England spend more than £800 million every year on street cleansing. Mr Hopkins said that people had to recognise that dropping litter and forcing councils to clear up the mess meant that councils had to divert cash from key areas like elderly care.
He said: “Those irresponsible individuals who are dropping litter are meaning that resources which are very limited at this time are taken away from elderly people or books in libraries or a whole range of services.”
The Government estimates that 30 per cent of all street litter is cigarette butts, cigarette packets or matches.
Mr Hopkins said he wanted tobacco companies to “make a contribution to put right the wrongs as a consequence of their product” and written to the Treasury to call for a litter tax on cigarette firms.
The Treasury is midway through a consultation on a levy on tobacco products which was began without fanfare shortly after the Autumn statement last month.
He said: “One of the burdens associated with this habit is actually picking up and cleansing.
“The Treasury may want to consider how they may want to place a levy on the tobacco companies to actually compensate for that. We have written and we are waiting for Treasury’s response.”
Retailers should follow the example of McDonald’s, the fast food chain, which takes responsibility for cleaning up a 100metre radius around its restaurants, he said.
“From a reputational point of view, it is a powerful message for us to say 'if you are a responsible retailer and people know that you are out there with a brush, people notice that'.”
Mr Hopkins said he wanted local council leaders to “challenge individuals who have thrown a can on the floor”, adding: "There is a public shame associated with that behaviour.”
A Communities and Local Government department spokesman said: “We have brought the specific issue of smoking-related littering to Treasury Ministers’ attention and would like to understand how, if this levy is introduced, the tobacco industry could contribute to the cost for local government of dealing with smokers’ litter.
“It seems sensible to us that, given how much smoking-related litter councils have to clear up, the tobacco companies contribute to their efforts.”
Littering is a pet hate of mine and sure gets my blood pressure through the roof so here's a rant.
I'm all for companies helping with efforts where they are located/sponsoring campaigns like this but forcing them via the law? How is it the fault of Spearmint or Lambert and Butler if I buy a pack of ciggies or chewing gum and then throw it on the floor like a filthy pig? You could extend the same argument to McDonalds, KFC - anything really. It's dangerous in law when you start messing up personal responsibility with collective or corporate responsibility.
If you want the streets to be cleaner as they used to be, it's a cultural thing rather than hiring more street cleaners. Encourage stable families where manners are taught and parents teach their children right and wrong. Have schools where manners are enforced by a strict code of conduct with punishment and not counselling for the naughty little brats. Live in a society where people aren't afraid to speak out against loutish behaviour for fear of being attacked verbally or otherwise and nobody aiding them. In other words, a return to some decent behaviour and a sense of PRIDE where you live. Do you want to live in a filthy cesspit of an area or a country? Sadly, many nowadays do for the factors I just mentioned aren't taught anymore because they're just not 'progressive' and 'modern' enough.
Thoughts?
Cigarette and chewing gum companies urged to help with national spring clean
Ministers have written to the Chancellor George Osborne to urge him to force tobacco companies to pay for cleaning up cigarette butts and packets
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02601/rubbish_2601142b.jpg
Chewing gum companies and fast food outlets should help clean the country’s streets as part of a first ever “national spring clean” to rid areas of litter, ministers have said.
Kris Hopkins, a minister at the Department for Communities and Local Government, said the companies could help the Government on the first ever community clear up day in seven weeks’ time.
It also emerged that Mr Hopkins and his ministerial colleague Dan Rogerson have written to the Chancellor George Osborne to urge him to force tobacco companies to pay for cleaning up cigarette butts and packets, which account for nearly a third of street litter.
Research by Keep Britain Tidy suggests that more than half the population drop litter and the Government is keen to effect "widespread behaviour change" by making dropping litter as unacceptable as drink driving.
The ‘community clear up day’ is being held on Saturday 21 March 2015 – the first day of spring will aim to spruce up the country’s city centres, high streets, villages and parks.
Chewing gum and snack manufacturers and fast food takeways are being urged to take part.
Mr Hopkins said: “This is a call to arms for communities great and small to help us end this litter scourge by taking greater pride in our neighbourhoods.
“It is time to roll up our sleeves and bring the broom back out of the cupboard because by looking after our local areas we can help make them better places to work and live.
“I also urge the manufacturers of items commonly associated with littering – such as soft drinks, chewing gum, crisps, confectionery and fast food – to join us in this day and contribute to the clear up of our streets and public places.
Councils in England spend more than £800 million every year on street cleansing. Mr Hopkins said that people had to recognise that dropping litter and forcing councils to clear up the mess meant that councils had to divert cash from key areas like elderly care.
He said: “Those irresponsible individuals who are dropping litter are meaning that resources which are very limited at this time are taken away from elderly people or books in libraries or a whole range of services.”
The Government estimates that 30 per cent of all street litter is cigarette butts, cigarette packets or matches.
Mr Hopkins said he wanted tobacco companies to “make a contribution to put right the wrongs as a consequence of their product” and written to the Treasury to call for a litter tax on cigarette firms.
The Treasury is midway through a consultation on a levy on tobacco products which was began without fanfare shortly after the Autumn statement last month.
He said: “One of the burdens associated with this habit is actually picking up and cleansing.
“The Treasury may want to consider how they may want to place a levy on the tobacco companies to actually compensate for that. We have written and we are waiting for Treasury’s response.”
Retailers should follow the example of McDonald’s, the fast food chain, which takes responsibility for cleaning up a 100metre radius around its restaurants, he said.
“From a reputational point of view, it is a powerful message for us to say 'if you are a responsible retailer and people know that you are out there with a brush, people notice that'.”
Mr Hopkins said he wanted local council leaders to “challenge individuals who have thrown a can on the floor”, adding: "There is a public shame associated with that behaviour.”
A Communities and Local Government department spokesman said: “We have brought the specific issue of smoking-related littering to Treasury Ministers’ attention and would like to understand how, if this levy is introduced, the tobacco industry could contribute to the cost for local government of dealing with smokers’ litter.
“It seems sensible to us that, given how much smoking-related litter councils have to clear up, the tobacco companies contribute to their efforts.”
Littering is a pet hate of mine and sure gets my blood pressure through the roof so here's a rant.
I'm all for companies helping with efforts where they are located/sponsoring campaigns like this but forcing them via the law? How is it the fault of Spearmint or Lambert and Butler if I buy a pack of ciggies or chewing gum and then throw it on the floor like a filthy pig? You could extend the same argument to McDonalds, KFC - anything really. It's dangerous in law when you start messing up personal responsibility with collective or corporate responsibility.
If you want the streets to be cleaner as they used to be, it's a cultural thing rather than hiring more street cleaners. Encourage stable families where manners are taught and parents teach their children right and wrong. Have schools where manners are enforced by a strict code of conduct with punishment and not counselling for the naughty little brats. Live in a society where people aren't afraid to speak out against loutish behaviour for fear of being attacked verbally or otherwise and nobody aiding them. In other words, a return to some decent behaviour and a sense of PRIDE where you live. Do you want to live in a filthy cesspit of an area or a country? Sadly, many nowadays do for the factors I just mentioned aren't taught anymore because they're just not 'progressive' and 'modern' enough.
Thoughts?