The Butt Stops Here is an ongoing cigarette butt watershed pollution reduction and education program that was initiated in 2010 by The Valley Women’s Club of San Lorenzo Valley’s Environmental Committee for the SLV. The program is intended to improve the health of the watershed by reducing the amount of cigarette butt litter entering it from streets that feed to storm drains that discharge to streams, creeks and the river, and ultimately to the ocean. This will be accomplished through education and public outreach, press releases, and media events; and by making highly recognizable cigarette butt receptacles available at key locations in populated areas, and by painting watershed creatures on or around curbside storm drain openings. The Butt Stops Here is supported by a watershed education grant from the San Lorenzo Valley Water District and contributions from Hallcrest Vineyards and other community sponsors.
The Butt Stops Here consists of three primary components.
- Developing and distributing a cigarette butt litter prevention brochure and other materials to educate people about the adverse impact of butts on the environment, and the positive effects individuals can have by preventing (i.e. properly disposing of) or cleaning up cigarette butt litter.
- Purchasing and placing cigarette butt receptacles at key locations in the San Lorenzo Valley, including Boulder Creek Brewery & Cafe, Junction Park, Henfling’s Tavern and Don Quixote’s International Music Hall. The Butt Stops Here receptacles have eye-catching signage developed by local artist and Environmental Committee member Stephanie Sakasai.
- Painting fish and other watershed creatures on or around curbside storm drain openings to reinforce the educational message of improving and protecting the environmental health of the watershed, discourage throwing any kind of litter into storm drains, and encourage the use of cigarette butt receptacles.