College & University Campuses

When implementing the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program on college campuses, consider these guidelines:

• Engage a cross-section of the college community, including college administration, faculty, and student leadership to improve program sustainability. If the school has a chapter, include Phi Theta Kappa student volunteers. Confirm that all students involved are of legal smoking age.
• Be aware of smoking restrictions and local ordinances. Many campuses are either non-smoking or only permit smoking in designated areas. Ensure there are ash receptacles in any designated smoking areas. If the whole campus is non-smoking, the litter problem will likely move to the immediate surrounding community.
• Consider distributing pocket ashtrays at events, such as Earth Week Fairs or Sustainability Fairs, campus orientation, and outdoor sporting events.
• Ask adult smokers who are given a pocket ashtray to sign a pledge to dispose of cigarette butt litter appropriately and only smoke in designated areas. Be prepared to message that the program is to prevent cigarette litter, not to encourage smoking.
• Expand the reach of education efforts and post cigarette butt litter messages in online and printed campus newspapers or student and faculty publications.