Investigate local litter laws. Does one exist? Does it include cigarette butt litter? Is it enforced? What are the penalties? Are businesses required to keep the area in front of their building clean? Is there a smoking ban in parks or on beaches? Determine a strategy for action based on answers to these questions.

Complete cigarette litter scans. Use an easy, proven tool to quantify cigarette butt litter in a small area of the community. Results from the scans can help direct program resources and assess impact after start of a Cigarette Litter Prevention Program. Get Keep America Beautiful’s Cigarette Litter Scan. Scans can be conducted in a downtown, park or recreation area, beach or other waterfront, roadways or highways, and even at special event locations.

Budget and gather resources. To understand program costs, start with this budget from Hot Springs Arkansas, or this budget from Glendale, Ca.

Use scan information to identify transition points for new ash receptacles or to move existing ones. When ordering ash receptacles, budget for their installation and maintenance, and consider any street furniture or streetscape ordinances.

Local litter laws and placement of new ash receptacles can help guide public education messaging and how and where pocket ashtrays or portable auto ashtrays are distributed. Select media that reaches your target audience and gives you maximum bang for your buck.