Naples' beaches add "butt bags".
Oct 8th, 2004, 06:45 AM
#1
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Naples' beaches add "butt bags".
Yesterday on my morning beach walk I ignored workmen doing something along the access ramps to the beach along Olde Naples (near the pier). This morning I see what they were doing was putting up poles with bag holders for "butts". These "butt bags" are for cigarette smokers to put their butts in rather than leaving them on the beach. Isn't that a nice idea? I wonder if it will work.
One of my favorite things to do while sitting at a traffic light is to roll down my window when I see someone throw out their cigarette butt and ask them if they throw all their trash out the window -- or ask them who they think will be picking up their cigarette butt or if they think it will somehow magically disappear. I usually get the finger or an obscenity, but it always makes me feel better anyway.
One of my favorite things to do while sitting at a traffic light is to roll down my window when I see someone throw out their cigarette butt and ask them if they throw all their trash out the window -- or ask them who they think will be picking up their cigarette butt or if they think it will somehow magically disappear. I usually get the finger or an obscenity, but it always makes me feel better anyway.
Oct 8th, 2004, 06:59 AM
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Ha! I can just picture you Patrick, good for you!
I have said something on occassion to someone doing something similar and the response is always the same, the Finger or a snarled "Don't worry about it"...we used to summer at the beach in Long Island and my children ran around everywhere barefooted..we all did. But there was always some non-thinker walking around tossing smoldering butts on the ground..sigh.
I hope it works in Naples~
I have said something on occassion to someone doing something similar and the response is always the same, the Finger or a snarled "Don't worry about it"...we used to summer at the beach in Long Island and my children ran around everywhere barefooted..we all did. But there was always some non-thinker walking around tossing smoldering butts on the ground..sigh.
I hope it works in Naples~
Oct 8th, 2004, 08:32 AM
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OK, since we're started on the subject: Are cigarette butts harmful to the environment? I guess I can see how the filters might be, but what about the nonfiltered? Would that be any different than tossing an apple core out the window?
Do I think people will use the butt bags? Not in this century, unless some type of butt-litter law is enforced.
Patrick: Good luck with your anti-butt campaign. Let us know what hospital you end up in so we can send flowers and cards.
Do I think people will use the butt bags? Not in this century, unless some type of butt-litter law is enforced.
Patrick: Good luck with your anti-butt campaign. Let us know what hospital you end up in so we can send flowers and cards.
Oct 8th, 2004, 08:56 AM
#6
Cigarette filters are not only dirty, but pose a threat to birds and sea life. Even unfiltered cigarette butts can be very harmful to the environment-especially since they are usually burning when tossed.
Of course, on a beach, there is little to burn other than children's feet.
If smokers won't even use the ash tray in their car, I doubt they will get up and use the butt bags!
Of course, on a beach, there is little to burn other than children's feet.
If smokers won't even use the ash tray in their car, I doubt they will get up and use the butt bags!
Oct 8th, 2004, 09:24 AM
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Kudos to you Patrick. As the daughter of a lifelong environmentalist, I applaud all people who are working to make a difference in our planet. Since we all love to travel, who wants to travel somewhere and find it filthy? Not to mention that I personally like the area I live in to be clean.
BTW, my imagination did frolic a bit with the "butt bag" heading. Some new kind of bathroom device for adults? LOL
BTW, my imagination did frolic a bit with the "butt bag" heading. Some new kind of bathroom device for adults? LOL
Oct 8th, 2004, 09:26 AM
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If you're in NC, you can report cars that litter at http://www.doh.dot.state.nc.us/opera...g/salform.html.
The Highway patrol sends the offender a threatening letter. I keep a pen and pad in my car.
The Highway patrol sends the offender a threatening letter. I keep a pen and pad in my car.
Oct 8th, 2004, 09:45 AM
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Whoa, sunnybrook!
Now "degenerates" throwapple cores out of windows? Whew!
My question related to impact on the environment, not etiquette. In fact, I once had a science professor
tell me that throwing apple cores out the window was GOOD for the environment.
Of course, he was probably
a degenerate.
Now "degenerates" throwapple cores out of windows? Whew!
My question related to impact on the environment, not etiquette. In fact, I once had a science professor
tell me that throwing apple cores out the window was GOOD for the environment.
Of course, he was probably
a degenerate.
Oct 8th, 2004, 09:49 AM
#12
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An applecore is most definitely a different matter.
Not only is the apple biodegradable but it will most likely get eaten by some form of animal.
The core also contains the seeds which of course may lead to the growth of another apple tree.
As a former smoker, I always kept a cup with sand in it with me on the beach and not only threw my butts away but those of other smokers as well.
Cigarette butts are horrible for the enviroment.
Not only is the apple biodegradable but it will most likely get eaten by some form of animal.
The core also contains the seeds which of course may lead to the growth of another apple tree.
As a former smoker, I always kept a cup with sand in it with me on the beach and not only threw my butts away but those of other smokers as well.
Cigarette butts are horrible for the enviroment.
Oct 8th, 2004, 09:52 AM
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Lots of marine life, but especially sea turtles, have been known to mistake floating debris for food. I guess they didn't grow up hanging around behind the 7-11 smoking cigarettes in their youth and so have no idea that's what it is. These items, including pill bottles, balloons, fireworks, get caught in their digestive tracts and they die.
In New Mexico, they used to have a minimum $500 fine for littering on the highways. I don't know if they still have it or whether or not they ever enforced it but I thought it was a darned good idea.
So why can't the smokers use the garbage cans on the beach like everyone else!?!?!
In New Mexico, they used to have a minimum $500 fine for littering on the highways. I don't know if they still have it or whether or not they ever enforced it but I thought it was a darned good idea.
So why can't the smokers use the garbage cans on the beach like everyone else!?!?!
Oct 8th, 2004, 10:18 AM
#14
I had an entirely different mental image of a "butt bag", for the beach. Need we go further? LOL We are always the last to know if we need it too!
I was in a turn lane stopped behind someone who threw, not a single butt, but the contents of his entire ashtray out onto the road (in front of DH's hotel
). Almost put my car in park to get out and give a lecture, then thoughts of road rage and some of the stories I've heard here, deterred me.
We've done volunteer clean-ups on the Causeway. If you've ever done one, you will never throw another scrap of anything, no matter how small, from your car. Unfortunately the people who volunteer for these clean-ups are also probably the people who are least likely to litter, and least likely to benefit from the experience. Too bad that isn't the mandatory punishment if caught in the act.
I was in a turn lane stopped behind someone who threw, not a single butt, but the contents of his entire ashtray out onto the road (in front of DH's hotel
). Almost put my car in park to get out and give a lecture, then thoughts of road rage and some of the stories I've heard here, deterred me. We've done volunteer clean-ups on the Causeway. If you've ever done one, you will never throw another scrap of anything, no matter how small, from your car. Unfortunately the people who volunteer for these clean-ups are also probably the people who are least likely to litter, and least likely to benefit from the experience. Too bad that isn't the mandatory punishment if caught in the act.
Oct 8th, 2004, 10:29 AM
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Good for you Patrick, I am usually too much of a coward to say anything.
Another thing that suprises me is people stick the butts down opnings in drain cover. Does this not clog drains? I've seen people do this openly in public, usually a couple of people me included glare, but say nothing
Another thing that suprises me is people stick the butts down opnings in drain cover. Does this not clog drains? I've seen people do this openly in public, usually a couple of people me included glare, but say nothing
Oct 8th, 2004, 10:56 AM
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What a great idea! As a recently former smoker myself I've always hated it when people left their butts everywhere. At the beach, I always brought a baggie to put my butts in. Alot of times I ended up with butts and other peoples garbage too. (When are people gonna learn?)
Most new cars don't have ashtrays. Atleast mine didn't. So I bought one for my car that was shaped like a cup.
I'm not a smoker anymore but it bothered me when I did smoke as well as now to see butts all over the road or beach.
Most new cars don't have ashtrays. Atleast mine didn't. So I bought one for my car that was shaped like a cup.
I'm not a smoker anymore but it bothered me when I did smoke as well as now to see butts all over the road or beach.
Oct 8th, 2004, 11:02 AM
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I must say I wondered what the heck a butt bag could be! Love the idea though!!!
A couple years ago in WA they were really cracking down on this on the roads. The police were giving out hefty tickets right and left for this. Mostly it was because of the risk of fire...but hey, works for me, lol!
While living in GA we routinely saw people throw entire bags of garbage out their windows. We are still baffled by that!!!!!!
Maybe this butt bag will catch on...wouldn't that be great?!
A couple years ago in WA they were really cracking down on this on the roads. The police were giving out hefty tickets right and left for this. Mostly it was because of the risk of fire...but hey, works for me, lol!
While living in GA we routinely saw people throw entire bags of garbage out their windows. We are still baffled by that!!!!!!
Maybe this butt bag will catch on...wouldn't that be great?!
Oct 8th, 2004, 11:38 AM
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Diana, sorry about the drink on the keyboard. Send me the bill. (But I'll probably put it in a butt bag).
What kind of degenerate throws apple cores out their car windows? Probably people like k_999_9 who see nothing wrong with it. I'm not talking about out into the dirt along a country road here, I'm talking about in the middle of the street in town. That somehow helps the blacktop?? Get serious! Somebody still has to come along and clean it up -- at least if your town is kept clean like ours is. And come on now -- how many people are throwing out non-filter butts? I won't make a guess as to actual percentages, but I can assure you the vast majority of those being thrown out windows have filters on them. And how long does it take for those to break down?
And k_999_9 it's a good thing that there are many people in this world who AREN'T like you. You feel no one will use them unless it becomes an enforced law. Believe it or not there are some people in this world who WILL see them and bother to put their butts in them simply because they DO care. You're like the guy throwing trash out on a hiking trail once and when I spoke to him about it he responded that if they don't put trash cans out on the trail then they should expect people to throw their trash on the ground? Huh? What kind of idiotic reasoning is that -- oh yea, the same kind of reasoning you have.
By the way, "butt bag" was their term, not mine. It says that right on the dispenser and on the bags themselves. Incidentally the bags are pretty big --and I suppose will also be used for people to put various waste into. I'd also think dog owners may take them to clean up behind their dogs (which in theory aren't allowed on our beaches).
What kind of degenerate throws apple cores out their car windows? Probably people like k_999_9 who see nothing wrong with it. I'm not talking about out into the dirt along a country road here, I'm talking about in the middle of the street in town. That somehow helps the blacktop?? Get serious! Somebody still has to come along and clean it up -- at least if your town is kept clean like ours is. And come on now -- how many people are throwing out non-filter butts? I won't make a guess as to actual percentages, but I can assure you the vast majority of those being thrown out windows have filters on them. And how long does it take for those to break down?
And k_999_9 it's a good thing that there are many people in this world who AREN'T like you. You feel no one will use them unless it becomes an enforced law. Believe it or not there are some people in this world who WILL see them and bother to put their butts in them simply because they DO care. You're like the guy throwing trash out on a hiking trail once and when I spoke to him about it he responded that if they don't put trash cans out on the trail then they should expect people to throw their trash on the ground? Huh? What kind of idiotic reasoning is that -- oh yea, the same kind of reasoning you have.
By the way, "butt bag" was their term, not mine. It says that right on the dispenser and on the bags themselves. Incidentally the bags are pretty big --and I suppose will also be used for people to put various waste into. I'd also think dog owners may take them to clean up behind their dogs (which in theory aren't allowed on our beaches).
Oct 8th, 2004, 11:43 AM
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Patrick, Patrick, Patrick. Calm yourself. I did not say I saw nothing wrong with throwing apple cores out of windows. Asked about environmental impact.
OK, if it makes you feel better to think of me as some degenrate, law-breaking, anti-environment, pro-smoking Nazi, go for it.
OK, if it makes you feel better to think of me as some degenrate, law-breaking, anti-environment, pro-smoking Nazi, go for it.
Oct 8th, 2004, 11:52 AM
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OK, I'm perfectly calm. But am I the only one who interpreted your remarks as indicating you thought there was nothing wrong with throwing an apple core out the window (even quoting your teacher who said it was good)?
My response to what kind of degenerate would . . ." was that it would be the same kind of person who would try to justify such activities as you mention the way you did. That kind of reasoning is the cause of all the cigarette butts being on the ground in the first place. Does it REALLY impact the environment? Duh????
My response to what kind of degenerate would . . ." was that it would be the same kind of person who would try to justify such activities as you mention the way you did. That kind of reasoning is the cause of all the cigarette butts being on the ground in the first place. Does it REALLY impact the environment? Duh????
