Spalding is leading the way with a pilot scheme to clear discarded cigarette butts in a campaign fronted by one of darts’ biggest stars.
The national Keep Britain Tidy charity says it has targeted the town for the ‘first of its kind’ initiative due to it having nearly three times the amount of litter from cigarette butts than the national average.
Darts pro and Spalding League regular Scott ‘Shaggy’ Williams is heading up the campaign.
As well as new cigarette bins, including a talking version in the centre of town, custom-branded dartboards are being placed in pubs across the town.
A spokesman for Keep Britain Tidy said: “Cigarette butts are the most littered item in the UK – an astonishing four out of five cigarettes smoked outdoors are disposed of incorrectly. In Spalding, where the smoking rate is more than twice the UK average, and cigarette litter on the ground is nearly three times the national figure, the town faces a unique challenge, making the need for a community-led solution critical.
“A recent baseline litter survey conducted by Keep Britain Tidy in Spalding identified high concentrations of cigarette litter across the town centre, predominantly outside social venues and where people tend to gather – leading to a focused effort on collaborating with local establishments, like pubs and bars.
“To make an impact, the campaign is meeting smokers where they are. With a strong local darts culture, and clear links between darts and smoking (70 per cent of darts fans are more likely to smoke every day, according to YouGov), Keep Britain Tidy and the council are using the game as a tool to help solve the problem.
“Custom dartboards are being installed in participating pubs across the town, serving as a reminder for smokers to make sure they dispose of their ‘darts’ responsibly.
“A talking cigarette bin will also be installed in the town centre, celebrating good behaviour with audio messages like “bullseye!” when used correctly to dispose of cigarette butts.
“This innovative, localised initiative in Spalding could serve as a vital model for other towns facing similar challenges, demonstrating how a proactive and community-focused approach can make a significant difference in tackling the UK’s most prevalent litter problem.”
Scott launched the campaign at The Water’s Edge pub on River Bank this week.
“I’ve been around cigarettes for so long, especially through playing darts and it’s nice to be asked to be physically involved in something to educate people,” he said. “I’m on at them all the time and they are getting better.
“They didn’t realise that cigarette butts are a form of littering.
“Spalding is a great town.
“As Keep Britain Tidy say, it’s one of the worst for litter, three times worse for dropping cigarette butts than the national average.
“That’s especially around the hospitality industry, pubs and clubs where people get most comfortable.”
Scott clearly enjoys Spalding and especially playing in the local league saying he enjoys it more than playing to thousands in the PDC.
“It’s so much nicer to go and be able to enjoy it,” he said. “It’s great playing with friends and family.
“Everyone in the league has been brilliant with me.”
