Visitors GuideDowntown St. John's, St. John’s Clean and Beautiful, the George Street Association and the City of St. John’s are asking residents to Go Bare Butt.
The attention-grabbing call to action is part of a new campaign that aims to reduce cigarette butt litter in downtown St. John’s. The campaign was launched by the City of St. John’s, St. John’s Clean and Beautiful, Downtown St. John’s and the George Street Association.
“Cigarette butt litter is a big problem on the streets and sidewalks of downtown St. John’s,” says Mayor O’Keefe. “Many smokers will flick their cigarette butt to the ground, not thinking that one little butt is litter, however, cigarette butts take 10 years to disintegrate.”
The Go Bare Butt awareness campaign starts today in downtown St. John’s and features branded cigarette butt receptacles, posters and sidewalk stencilling, a first for the St. John’s market. Phase one of the campaign will target the downtown core of the city, in particular restaurants, bars and coffee shops along George Street, Water Street and Duckworth Street.
Karen Hickman, executive director of St. John’s Clean and Beautiful, is thrilled about the new partnership saying, “We’re delighted to have partnered with the City of St. John’s, Downtown St. John’s and the George Street Association for this important campaign. Although tiny, cigarette butts are litter. We hope that through Go Bare Butt we can cut down the amount of litter on our sidewalks.”
"Downtown St. John's and its members take pride in trying to keep the downtown area clean for all to enjoy and what a better way than to Go Bare Butt!" says Scott Cluney, executive director of Downtown St. John’s.
Go Bare Butt is a joint initiative between St. John’s Clean and Beautiful, Downtown St. John’s, the George Street Association and the City of St. John’s.
Downtown St. John’s is helping supply its members with receptacles to meet their different needs.
Seamus O’Keefe, executive director of the George Street Association is looking forward to the success of the new campaign, saying "We’re excited to participate with our partners on the Go Bare Butt project. This is an important step in the ongoing revitalization of our iconic tourist destination."
Receptacles and sidewalk stencilling can be found at 32 locations throughout the downtown area, including Coffee and Company, Atlantic Place, the Rose and Thistle and several bars along George Street.
Residents are also encouraged to use the over 75 garbage receptacles throughout the Downtown as well.
Cigarette Butts are Litter too! Join us in Going Bare Butt in Downtown St. John's!
