SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - "Ash bags" are being given out at various locations in Yellowknife to help reduce cigarette butts on the city's streets and sidewalks.

"Ash bags" distributed by health officials with Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority and the City of Yellowknife aim to keep cigarette litter down in the city. - Adrian Lysenko/NNSL photo

The distribution of the 3,500 bags are part of the "Bin in the Butts" campaign from the city and Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority (YHSSA).

"It's basically a personal ashtray," said Jo Russell, health promotion coordinator, with the city health authority,."(It's) giving smokers an option not to litter if their isn't any ashtrays around."

Russell said the idea came about when the city's litter-clean up crew found the majority of the garbage they were picking up were cigarette butts.

She said Edmonton had a similar idea with personal ashtrays so they wanted to try something along those lines.

Some of the locations residents can obtain the bags from are city hall, Gourmet Cup, Javaroma, the Multiplex as well as Roy's Audiotronic.

Russell said many reasons why the bags are a good initiative is because cigarette butts are hard to break down and can cause forest fires and the filter's toxins can leach into the ground.

"The biggest reason is litter," said Russell. "If people see butts subconsciously you think it's okay to smoke in a certain area."

Early this year the city spent $6,000 for ashtrays on city street corners. The ashtrays feature a sticker with the slogan "Bin the Butts" and the number for the territory's cigarette Quitline.

The ash bags seem popular with some of the city's smokers.

"I love them," said Violca Memedi. "I use it all the time."

Memedi thinks the bags will help reduce the number of cigarette butts on the street.

"If you're walking outside the city or on the rocks I don't want to throw my cigarette butt on the ground," said Memedi. "Now there's no excuse."

Joshua Mast also has picked up one of the ash bags from Javaroma.

Before getting the bag Mast said he would place the butts in his pocket.

"I'm not one to throw them on the street," said Mast.

"They're great, the only thing is they get dirty."

Smoker Julian Wakelin has heard of the ash bags but doesn't have one.

He said the butt bins are a good initiative to reduce the amount of cigarette butts in the city but said there isn't enough of them and are only available in the downtown area.

"I think it's a good idea, especially if you're in the bush," said Wakelin.

"It's a better solution than having my jacket stink."

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