Case Study - Bournemouth

Gum litter – Bournemouth

Bournemouth tries out Stubbi

Bournemouth’s Neighbourhood Wardens are looking to put an end to cigarette ends and gum litter on the floor by asking residents to try cigarette extinguisher Stubbi.

Bournemouth is currently researching the gum and cigarette disposal habits of its residents. Council officers are asking residents to fill in a questionnaire in return for one of the cigarette and gum pouches.

Residents that agree to take part in the scheme will be contacted a month after the initial survey then asked how they got on with their cigarette extinguisher they received. The target audience is smokers and gum chewers of all ages.

Piloting Stubbi

This initial pilot project is run by the Neighbourhood Wardens, but will be turned into a larger scale project working with the Cleansing and Waste department at a later stage.

"We will work towards changing attitudes to the disposal of gums and cig ends from spitting out and dropping on the floor to more environmentally friendly methods" - Hannah Beech, a Neighbourhood Warden at Bournemouth City Council

The trial is based on the problem that there is a lack of places to dispose of gum and cigarette ends in Bournemouth. The department gained ₤1000 through a quick win from the Neighbourhood Management in two areas of the city, which enabled the staff to source pouches, design and purchase them during a period of 3 months. The funding was enough to buy 1000 pouches.

"We contacted several companies to gain various quotes and received several samples and then decided on the most appropriate company," - Hannah Beech

Promotional day

The project has not received any other sources of funding. Residents are being targeted in three areas of the city after initial information had gone out in the press to make people aware of the project. The main bulk of the pouches were given out on a promotional day.

"A couple of residents expressed concern about whether the project would work and whether anyone would actually use the pouches. But the overall initial response has been very positive and received many phone calls and emails as a result of the first press releases that went out" - Hannah Beech

Awaiting survey results

Once the result of the survey has been put together the wardens will know whether the project is cost effective and whether it will help to change disposal attitudes. The Neighbourhood Wardens work toward creating a safer and cleaner environment as well as promoting sustainability and engaging the local community in respecting and improving their local area.

This project is part of their work toward educating the public of all ages. The wardens have visited residential homes, schools and community meetings in order to promote their work. The Bournemouth wardens recently won the National Wardens Award for Environment. In the near future the wardens are looking to start a Junior Wardens Scheme for young people in the area.

For more information, please contact Hannah Beech at hannah.beech@bournemouth.gov.uk