New cigarette butt ballot bin installed in Stroud town centre

Stroud District Council has installed a new cigarette butt ballot bin in Stroud town centre, aimed at reducing cigarette litter and encouraging more responsible disposal.

The bin has been positioned outside King Street Social Tap following a review of potential locations. The decision was informed by feedback gathered from councillors, officers from Stroud District Council and Stroud Town Council, and the council’s street cleaning teams. 

This area has generated a high number of complaints and observations regarding cigarette litter, making it a priority location for action.

The butt ballot bin, provided via the Gloucestershire Resources and Waste Partnership, offers a simple but engaging way to encourage smokers to dispose of their cigarette ends properly. 

Users can “vote” by placing their cigarette butt into one of two compartments in response to a question displayed on the front of the bin.

In keeping with the location outside a popular sports bar, the first question asks: 
“Which is the better sport: darts or football?”

The question will be updated regularly to keep the feature engaging for residents and visitors alike.

Councillor Martin Pearcy, Stroud District Council’s Chair of Environment Committee said:

“Cigarette litter is one of the most common forms of litter we see in our town centres, and it can have a significant impact on both the environment and how our streets look and feel. Cigarette butts contain plastics and harmful chemicals that can pollute waterways and pose risks to wildlife if they’re not disposed of properly.

“This initiative is about encouraging small changes in behaviour that can make a big difference. By placing the bin in a hotspot and making it interactive, we hope to reduce litter in this area and create a cleaner, more welcoming town centre for everyone. This work directly supports our council plan priorities to protect our environment and support a thriving local economy.”

The council hopes that the combination of a targeted location and the interactive voting feature will lead to a noticeable reduction in cigarette litter on King Street and encourage wider behavioural change across the district.

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