By BRIDGET COOK
SMOKERS have been urged to not use the outside world as their ashtray, due to the high risk of grass fires being started from lit cigarette butts.
At Tuesday night’s council meeting, councillors resolved to look at ways of publicising and supporting the EPA’s efforts to encourage the community to dob in people who throw cigarette butts out their car window.
The council will also urge its local laws officers and Victoria Police to be vigilant when it comes to this behaviour.
Councillor Gary Rowe, who raised the motion, said he had seen three roadside fires in Berwick, Narre Warren and Cranbourne in recent weeks which were likely to have been caused by cigarette butts.
“People who throw cigarette butts out the window have a complete disregard for community safety, including their own family,” she said.
“We have seen what can happen – all it takes is a wind change and these fires can take off.
“They can then endanger life and property.”
Cr Rowe said he was urging the community to dob in a litterer if they saw one.
“Everyone who does this should be fined and dobbed in by others to keep the community safe.
“The penalties for this are hefty, because it’s not just littering anymore but treated as a serious offence.”
Cranbourne CFA senior station officer Ian Glass said it was hard to prove that fires were started by cigarette butts, but it was a likely occurrence.
“It’s disturbing to see when the grass is tinder-dry,” he said.
“With a little bit of wind, a fire can easily take off.
“It’s very frustrating to see people who seem to treat the outside world as their ashtray.
“It’s not only a huge fire risk, but it’s also bad for the environment as they end up in our waterways.”
For more information on how to dob in a litterer, visit www.epa.vic.gov.au/get-involved/report-litter
