The Colfax Ave Business Improvement District (BID) will receive a Cigarette Litter Prevention Program Grant of $10,000 from Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, to combat cigarette litter along the Colfax corridor.
Colfax Ave is one of 42 organizations to receive grant funding through the 2018 Cigarette Litter Prevention Program. The 2017 Cigarette Litter Prevention Program grant funding totaled $295,000. The Cigarette Litter Prevention Program, now in its 16th year, is the nation’s largest program aimed at reducing cigarette litter. Throughout its history, the program has helped reduce cigarette litter in the communities in which it has been implemented by an average of 50 percent.
The area governed by Colfax Ave includes four music venues, over 20 bars/pubs, and 25,000 people who live within a 10-minute walk of the district. Installing designated cigarette disposal receptacles and educating the public via the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program is a critical step towards eliminating cigarette waste along the corridor.
“We’re excited to implement this program on Colfax,” said Michelle Valeri, Communications and Programs Director for Colfax Ave. “We’re extremely proud that Colfax is known for being a diverse place that welcomes everyone. Installing these receptacles will give smokers an easy option to dispose of their cigarettes properly and help create a cleaner street environment for our local businesses.”
“The grant recipients are charged with moving the program forward to help educate and inspire smokers to do the right thing,” said Helen Lowman, Keep America Beautiful president and CEO. “The new marketing assets, which any community can localize and use, will enable affiliates, local governments, and other community groups to teach adult smokers about the negative impacts related to littering and the role they can play in improving their community.”
Since its establishment over 16 years ago, the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program has consistently cut cigarette butt litter by approximately half based on local measurements taken in the first four months to six months after program implementation. Survey results also demonstrate that as communities continue to implement and monitor the program those reductions are sustained or even increased over time. Keep America Beautiful has distributed over $3 million in grant funding to support local implementation of the program in more than 1,700 communities nationwide.
“This is a huge moment of empowerment for the people of Colfax,” said Preston Murray, Denver resident and public health advocate. “Providing the infrastructure is the biggest and most necessary step towards enabling folks to keep our city clean of cigarette butts.”
To address cigarette butt litter, Keep America Beautiful’s Cigarette Litter Prevention Program advocates that communities integrate four proven approaches:
- Encourage enforcement of litter laws, including cigarette litter;
- Raise awareness about the issue using public service messages;
- Place ash receptacles at transition points such as entrances to public buildings; and
- Distribute pocket or portable ashtrays to adult smokers.
The Cigarette Litter Prevention Program is supported by funding from Philip Morris USA, an Altria company; RAI Services Company; and the Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company.
About Colfax Ave
The Colfax Ave Business Improvement District (BID) promotes economic vitality, implements a clean and safe street program, and advocates on behalf of area businesses among public and private partners. Founded in 1989, the organization is governed by a volunteer board of directors representing a diverse mix of area businesses and property owners and who are appointed by the Mayor. Follow Colfax Ave on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
About Keep America Beautiful
Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. Celebrating its 65th Anniversary in 2018, Keep America Beautiful strives to End Littering, Improve Recycling and Beautify America’s Communities. We believe everyone has a right to live in a clean, green and beautiful community, and shares a responsibility to contribute to that vision.
Behavior change – steeped in education, research and behavioral science – is the cornerstone of Keep America Beautiful. We empower generations of community and environmental stewards with volunteer programs, hands-on experiences, educational curricula, practical advice and other resources. The organization is driven by the work and passion of more than 600 Keep America Beautiful affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the collaborative support of corporate partners, social and civic service organizations, academia, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Donate and take action at kab.org.