Choosing the right cigarette disposal bin

Cigarette disposal bins and ashtrays are an integral part of a sustainable solution to reducing cigarette litter.

"Ultimately, if all smokers used an ashtray then there would not be a litter problem. However, smokers will often cite a lack of ashtrays as a reason for littering cigarette ends" (according to ENCAMS – the organisation that runs the “Keep Britain Tidy” campaign).

You can see a great deal of useful information in the joint ENCAMS / DEFRA publication “Preventing Cigarette Litter in England - Guidelines for Local Authorities” (available as a PDF download).

According to ENCAMS "...it would be impossible to place ashtrays everywhere, (but) you can help to maximise the use of new (and old) ashtrays by choosing the right type of ashtray to suit your context. The placement, design and visibility of your ashtray can all influence whether it is used or not."

Design

When choosing an ashtray it is important to consider its design. The design of an ashtray can influence its ease of use and therefore how much it is used by smokers.

Design includes the look and functionality of the ashtray. You may wish to consider the aesthetics of the existing street furniture with which you will want it to harmonise. Many ashtray manufacturers are able to provide casings in a range of colours, which may help it to blend in with the surroundings and other types of street furniture. It is also worth noting however, that smokers will still need to easily identify an ashtray from a distance, considering that they require an immediate disposal solution for a burning cigarette end.

You should therefore try to strike a balance between harmonising with the existing street furniture and making the ashtray stand out. This could be achieved by placing a cigarette litter symbol on the front of the ashtray.

Ashtrays obviously need to be heat resistant. Most outdoor ashtrays will have a metal inner and some have a plastic outer. Heat resistant materials are melamine (a thermosetting polymer which is very resistant to heat), mild steel, stainless steel or anodised aluminium. Polyethelyene has good heat resistance but will burn if set on fire. There are some grades of polyethelyene that are flame retardant; however, they are not particularly weather resistant. Some ashtrays also have design features that aim to dampen the development of fire caused by smouldering cigarette ends by limiting oxygen.

Consider whether the ashtrays need to be weather proof. The performance of many plastics can deteriorate when left in sunlight, causing colour fading or brittleness. You may wish to check the impact performance, UV stability and colour-fastness of the ashtrays before purchasing.

Stainless steel is very weather proof, and comes in a variety of grades. Grade 304 is a general grade that can show signs of staining and marking when cigarettes are stubbed out on it. Grade 316 is preferable as it has better weather and staining resistance. Also consider whether the ashtray has a ‘hood’ to ensure that it does not become filled with water during rain (a small amount of water obviously is little to be concerned about).

Many permanent ashtrays have vandal proof measures to ensure that they are not stolen, vandalised or damaged by vagrants seeking partially used cigarette ends. These measures include a range of locks and wall attachments.

Also consider the volume of cigarette ends that your ashtray will need to hold in between emptying. Most manufacturers can provide the volume of the ashtray.

Much of the information on this page has been reproduced from the DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) publication "Preventing Cigarette Litter in England", which is here available as a PDF download. This Publication © Crown copyright 2007. This information is also available from the DEFRA web site.