No Butts on Patrolled Beaches

Packet of butts

In a move strongly supported by Surfrider, the Victorian Government has introduced a new Bill to Parliament titled ‘Tobacco Amendment (Smoking at Patrolled Beaches) Bill 2012.

This amendment to the Tobacco Act 1987 will prohibit smoking within 50 meters of the flags at patrolled beaches within Victoria. Similar provisions operate in Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania.

Cigarette litter is a massive problem on our beaches, with discarded butts always a significant part of the litter picked up during Surfrider beach clean-ups. These butts can be ingested by wildlife, release toxins and deface our beach amenity.

Surfrider not only conduct beach cleanups throughout Australia but we also push for policy and legislative change to combat, reduce and solve litter pollution issues.

As part of Rise Above Plastics campaign, in the last three years we have collected 50 000 pieces of marine debri, weighing over 4 tonnes and covering 110 000 meters of our much loved Aussie beaches. Find out how you can get involved, donate and kick goals with Surfrider.