Downtown Louisville launches ‘Butt Bin’ program to curb cigarette litter, boost recycling | News from WDRB [Video]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — There’s a new plan in downtown Louisville to get cigarette butts from the curb.

It’s called the “Butt Bin” program. Sixty bins will be installed in the downtown area.

Businesses can request a free bin, which will be placed in high-traffic smoking areas to encourage responsible disposal. The butts will then be picked up monthly and given to a company that will recycle cigarette filters.

Keep America Beautiful provided a grant for the program.

“Cigarette butts are the single most littered item — and a pain to pick up — so this new program not only educates and helps to keep our streetscapes clean and bright; it also provides a positive impact to our environment,” Rebecca Fleischaker, executive director of the Louisville Downtown Partnership, said in a news release. “The receptacles are attractive and convenient ways for smokers to more easily and purposefully dispose of their cigarette butts to serve a dual purpose in our …