Keep Akron Beautiful launched its program in early September with a pre-survey of the targeted area that encompasses the commercial section of East Market Street across from the University of Akron campus, a residential block and selected buildings on the campus. When the cigarette butt survey count reached over 4,000, Keep Akron Beautiful placed 10 new ash receptacles at transition points along the East Market Street corridor. Rick Riccardi, Grounds and Campus Services of The University of Akron, worked with the agency to make sure the campus buildings had enough ash receptacles at key locations for easy use.

Keep Akron Beautiful is one of 28 affiliates chosen to pilot this litter prevention program. The cigarette smoking ordinances are forcing smokers outside the buildings where the smoking litter is accumulating and creating an eyesore. This nonprofit agency enlisted the help of three University of Akron Business Department graduate students from Dr. Deborah Owen's Business Research Methods class to assist with the three month public awareness effort: Selim Ecemis, Lisa Hertzig and Ioannis K. Profylienos. They are initiating their own on campus survey to gauge college students' attitudes towards cigarette litter.

Chances are you have seen or heard one of the many public awareness tools the Cigarette Litter Prevention Team has used, such as the 30 second public service announcements on WZIP-FM, or the bus ads on the Metro RTA buses, or the 60 second recorded anti-litter ads on two Clear Channel radio stations.

"We'd like to thank the University Park Development Corporation for a grant that may remind you that cigarette butts are litter too, with the message on 1,000 window clings that are placed on doors and windows in the University Park Alliance neighborhoods surrounding the university campus," said KAB Director, Paula Davis. If you smoke, find an ash or combined ash/trash receptacle to dispose of your cigarette butts and packaging. Our program is doing its part to remind you and make it easy for you to not litter!

Keep Akron Beautiful develops and implements public education ad community improvement programs on litter prevention, recycling, waste management, and beautification to encourage citizens to take pride in Akron by participating in these activities. The Board has a vision of a litter-free Akron where all citizens and businesses take pride and responsibility for the cleanliness and beautification of their environment. Visit www.keepakronbeautiful.org for more information.

Proclamation (13k pdf)
Flyer (27k pdf)

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Contact
Paula P. Davis, Executive Director
Keep Akron Beautiful
davispa@ci.akron.oh.us, 330-375-2116

Keep America Beautiful, Inc. is a national, nonprofit public education and community improvement organization whose network of more than 540 local, statewide ad international programs educate individuals about litter prevention, beautification and ways to reduce, reuse, recycle and properly manage waste materials. Visit www.kab.org or email info@kab.org.