Cigarette Butt Receptacles in Downtown Boulder Creek

By Karen Edwards

Every year, tens of thousands of cigarette butts are collected at beach cleanups in Santa Cruz County. They are, by far, the most commonly found type of litter found on our beaches. Imagine how many more of them are in our rivers, roadways, sewers, and on sidewalks. Not only are cigarette butts litter and a fire hazard, they can also contain toxins such as arsenic, lead, and nicotine. Many of the butts that aren’t picked up in cleanups make their way into the mouths of wildlife – birds, mammals, and fishes mistakenly eat them and can become ill or perish from the toxins or starvation due to blockages created by indigestible filters. Even butts that are disposed of in a waste bin will end up in a landfill where birds and other land animals encounter them.

The Boulder Creek Business Association and the Valley Women’s Club have come together to help address this issue. They are in the process of installing several TerraCycle receptacles in downtown Boulder Creek where smokers can dispose of their butts. The business hosting the receptacle will periodically empty the receptacles using the touch-free system built into the design of the receptacle. They will then send the butts off to TerraCycle who will recycle and safely compost every bit of that butt! For more information on the TerraCycle program, visit terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/cigarette-waste-recycling.

Recycling or composting is a preferred method of disposal for any item. The hope in installing the receptacles is to not only help the environment, but to give a boost to the aesthetic appeal of the downtown area. As folks become able to travel more, we hope that tourists will be drawn to our shops. Providing a place to recycle the butts will not only make storefront cleanup easier for the merchants, but will also make the shopper’s stroll through town just that much nicer.

Thank you to the businesses who have volunteered to host the receptacles in Phase 1 of the program: Boulder Creek Liquor, Joe’s Bar, Liberty Bank, TreeHouse Café, BC Recreation & Parks at Junction Park and Boulder Creek Pharmacy. Depending on need, more receptacles can be installed. If you are a business owner in Boulder Creek and would like to have a receptacle in front of your shop, please contact the BCBA at info@bcba.net.

Karen Edwards is Assistant VP and Operations Officer at Liberty Bank and President of the Boulder Creek Business Association