You and your butt outdoors: cigarette waste disposal in public spaces Survey

This survey is NOT about quitting smoking or the health impacts of cigarettes.

The purpose of this survey is to explore how smokers dispose of cigarette waste in outdoor spaces and what smokers think about their butts in the environment.

The survey is open to anyone who is, or has ever been, a regular smoker. The survey is entirely anonymous and results will be used to assist Douglas Shire Council improve facilities and education about the disposal of cigarette butts and to improve the amenity of outdoor public spaces by reducing the number of butts disposed of on the ground.

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* 1. How many cigarettes do/did you smoke on an average day?

1 - 15

16 - 30

31 - 60

over 61

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* 2. When do you prefer to smoke? Choose all that apply

At regular intervals throughout the work day

At lunch/ tea breaks only

As I'm walking or engaging in another activity

I'll stop what I'm doing to sit down and have a cigarette

Never inside

At home only

When I'm drinking alcohol or socializing with friends

When driving my car

Other (please specify)

What do you do with it (your butt)?

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* 3. Is there a designated smoking area at your workplace?

Yes

If not, where do you smoke?

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* 4. Is an ashtray/appropriate waste receptacle available there?

Yes

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* 5. How do you normally dispose of cigarette butts when outside e.g. at the beach, in a park, on the street?

I flick the butt out of sight

I grind it into the ground to make sure the fire has been put out

I carry a personal pocket ashtray

I knock the fire off and keep the butt in my pocket or bag for later disposal

If driving, I throw cigarette butts out of my vehicle window

I always put my cigarette butts into ashtrays or waste bins

I will throw cigarette butts into a drain or waterway so that I know they won’t start a fire

Other (please specify)

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* 6. When outside I dispose of cigarette butts by dropping them on the ground

Regularly

Occasionally

Never

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* 7. What factors would be likely to influence how you dispose of a cigarette butt when outside? Choose all that apply

Nearby rubbish bins

Not being in a built up area

Being where there are other cigarette butts around

Being where there are lots of people around

Other (please specify)

What do you know about it (your butt & the environment)?

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* 8. The single item most collected in public space clean-ups each year is?

Beverage containers

Cigarette filters/butts

Fishing line/nets

Plastic bags

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* 9. Do you agree or disagree that the following statements are true?

	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Not sure	Agree	Strongly agree
Birds and fish don't eat cigarette butts because they taste bad	Birds and fish don't eat cigarette butts because they taste bad Strongly disagree	Birds and fish don't eat cigarette butts because they taste bad Disagree	Birds and fish don't eat cigarette butts because they taste bad Not sure	Birds and fish don't eat cigarette butts because they taste bad Agree	Birds and fish don't eat cigarette butts because they taste bad Strongly agree
Cigarette butts leach toxic chemicals into the environment	Cigarette butts leach toxic chemicals into the environment Strongly disagree	Cigarette butts leach toxic chemicals into the environment Disagree	Cigarette butts leach toxic chemicals into the environment Not sure	Cigarette butts leach toxic chemicals into the environment Agree	Cigarette butts leach toxic chemicals into the environment Strongly agree
Cigarette filters are biodegradable and break down quickly	Cigarette filters are biodegradable and break down quickly Strongly disagree	Cigarette filters are biodegradable and break down quickly Disagree	Cigarette filters are biodegradable and break down quickly Not sure	Cigarette filters are biodegradable and break down quickly Agree	Cigarette filters are biodegradable and break down quickly Strongly agree
Butts are harmless when eaten by humans	Butts are harmless when eaten by humans Strongly disagree	Butts are harmless when eaten by humans Disagree	Butts are harmless when eaten by humans Not sure	Butts are harmless when eaten by humans Agree	Butts are harmless when eaten by humans Strongly agree
It can be dangerous to throw a cigarette butt into a rubbish bin	It can be dangerous to throw a cigarette butt into a rubbish bin Strongly disagree	It can be dangerous to throw a cigarette butt into a rubbish bin Disagree	It can be dangerous to throw a cigarette butt into a rubbish bin Not sure	It can be dangerous to throw a cigarette butt into a rubbish bin Agree	It can be dangerous to throw a cigarette butt into a rubbish bin Strongly agree
People can be fined for dropping a cigarette butt on the ground	People can be fined for dropping a cigarette butt on the ground Strongly disagree	People can be fined for dropping a cigarette butt on the ground Disagree	People can be fined for dropping a cigarette butt on the ground Not sure	People can be fined for dropping a cigarette butt on the ground Agree	People can be fined for dropping a cigarette butt on the ground Strongly agree
More than 3000 animals die every year from ingesting cigarette butts	More than 3000 animals die every year from ingesting cigarette butts Strongly disagree	More than 3000 animals die every year from ingesting cigarette butts Disagree	More than 3000 animals die every year from ingesting cigarette butts Not sure	More than 3000 animals die every year from ingesting cigarette butts Agree	More than 3000 animals die every year from ingesting cigarette butts Strongly agree

How do you feel about it (waste and your butt)?

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* 10. Do you consider cigarette butts to be litter?

Yes

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* 11. What factors would make you more likely to pick up your cigarette butt for later disposal in a bin? If you already do, why? Choose all that apply

Concerned about the environment

If I had a personal pocket ashtray I could keep with my cigarettes

I don't like to litter

If there were more convenient bins

There are lots of people around

I could be fined for leaving a butt

Other (please specify)

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* 12. At home, are you careful to separate your rubbish and recycling?

Yes

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* 13. Are you involved with/interested in environmental campaigns, e.g. CSG, wildlife conservation?

Yes

Which? (please specify)

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* 14. Have you ever had to litter paper or plastic food or drink packaging?

Sometimes

Occasionally

Never

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* 15. Any further comments to help us understand knowledge, beliefs and behavior around disposal of cigarette butts?

Thank you for taking the time to help us improve the amenity of public spaces and make it easier for smokers to appropriately dispose of their cigarette waste.