Winston-Salem City Leaders Want To Snuff Out Cigarette Butts

The city of Winston-Salem is running a campaign to reduce cigarette litter on the sidewalks and on the streets. George Stilphen is the executive director of Keep Winston-Salem Beautiful. He says this effort is necessary because cigarette butts are not bio-degradable. "Most of the time they don't end up being cleaned nor picked up," explains Stilpen. "They wash away down the storm drain and into our water supply. They cause harm to wild life not to mention they dirty our water supply. It looks unsightly."

During the next few weeks, the city will also install 35-40 cigarette butt receptacles along busy streets and at a number of bus stops. Stilphen believes this effort will help strengthen the city's economy. "It's been shown nationwide around the world, the more beautiful your city is in terms of trees and no litter, the more it will promote tourism and business." This is the third year Winston-Salem has held the anti-cigarette butt campaign.