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Lake Ouachita will be the focus of
one of the largest Cigarette
Litter Prevention Studies supported by Keep America Beautiful.
This massive undertaking with 42 test sites has been made possible by a
grant from Philip Morris USA, an Altria company, with additional support
from RAI Services Company.
Each of the sites in the study that has been developed by the
Hot
Springs / Garland County Beautification Commission.
"Do Not Litter
Cigarette Butts" signage in four types, cigarette ash receptacles, and
specially developed information brochures in both English and Spanish will
be distributed.
The major partner in the Lake Ouachita cigarette litter prevention study will be the Corps of Engineers rangers, who
will be distributing free pocket and portable ash trays to all smokers
18 years of age and older.
This is the largest, but by no means the first such study carried out by the
Hot
Springs/Garland County Beautification Commission. Executive Director and National Cigarette Litter Advisory Board
member, Adam Roberts
adamrobertshsgcbc@msn.com explained, "The Commission has been deeply involved in
the reduction of litter and specifically cigarette litter for many years
resulting in national and State awards.
This project was funded by a $10,000 grant from United
Parcel Service through Keep America Beautiful.
It includes 26 custom produced 100% recycled plastic
recycling units (shaped like giant beverage bottles), signage, advertising,
and a new 30 second TV commercial.
The TV commercials feature Petunia, a mythical Arkansas Fish
who tells everybody not to throw plastic into the lake, but recycle it!
The recycling units are placed in city, county, state and
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers parks around Garland County. The project
also included a study of the amount of plastic collected and litter counts
at the sites to see if there is a corresponding reduction in litter.
Using the Keep America Beautiful Litter Index system, a 33%
reduction in litter has been reported at the sites. Over 170 bags of plastic
have been recycled
For more Information Contact:
Adam Roberts, Executive Director
500 Mid- America Blvd.
Hot Springs, AR 71913
501.655.2161
adamrobertshsgcbc@msn.com
Lake Ouachita
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