Raising awareness thru the local Union Tribune newspaper

The HOTYB group was published in the local San Diego Union Tribune newspaper, raising awareness to a broader audience, and getting the word out about the cigarette waste issue. View the newspaper article here. Many thanks to Nathan Max at the Union-Tribune.

Two New Ashcans at P.B. Shore Club!!!

Thank you to Billy, Doug & the Pacific Beach Shore Club for their sponsorship donation for two new ash cans!! Thank you for helping keep our streets and beaches clean of cigarette butt litter!!!

New ashcan at Blind Lady Ale House!

Thank you to Jeff Motch & Blind Lady Ale House for
helping keep our streets clean of cigarette butt litter!!

Redemption & Recycling of Cigarette Butts?

Hey everyone!

RippleLife's grassroots project offers the first ever Butt Redemption Value (BRV) to incentivize the collection of cigarette butts the same way bottles, cans, and other recyclables are. It's a chance for outdoor lovers to get their hands dirty with us to clean up our big blue playground, stop the damage cigarette butts inflict upon our eco-systems, and give these plastic filters a better second life.

Our project goals are to realize a cleaner and safer outdoors, reduce landfill waste, and recycle these plastic filters --today-- not when cities, states, federal government, and Tobacco companies finally figure out a solution to this ugly problem. Since an outright global ban of cigarette filters is highly unlikely, our 'education and prevention -partners- with collection and repurposing' approach is a crazy yet brilliant idea. The overwhelming feedback? "This is the next evolutionary step... great job!"

RippleLife's initial BRV will start at USD $3.00 per pound and offers recyclers another opportunity to make a difference. Don't care about the BRV? Just tell us you'd like to donate your proceeds to this project or choose from 20 of our other approved outdoor causes like Surfrider Foundation, The Ocean Conservancy, and Leave No Trace. You'll receive a 100% tax-deductible receipt and your donation will be added to your Ripple if you have one. Oh... and the places you love will shine a bit brighter!

We're happy to be working with Surfrider Foundation on this issue!

Don't just "Hold on to your butt".... bring them to one of our collection events! The next one is Saturday March 19th in Pacific Beach! More info here: http://www.ripplelife.org/butts

Like the idea? Help us out too :)

~ Cheers, Curtis

More butts collected at beach cleanups!

On Feb 19, 2011 at the Moonlight Beach cleanup, 33 volunteers picked up 1025 cigarette butts--wow thanks for keeping our beaches clean:)

Cigarette butts collected from beach cleanups in 2011...

On Feb 12, 2011 volunteers at the South Carlsbad beach cleanup collected 405 butts! Many thanks to the cleanup leaders and volunteers for their efforts as we try to reduce this littered item on our beaches.

40,000 butts collected from SD beaches in 2010

Surfrider Foundation, San Diego Chapter partners with "San Diego Coastkeeper" for twice-monthly beach cleanups. In 2010, out of the total number of items found, 26% was cigarette butts. Smoking is illegal on San Diego beaches. You can view San Diego Coastkeeper's data here.
Do you part by volunteering for a beach cleanup or for HOTYB.

Surfrider ashcans in Pacific Beach!

HOTYB committee member Brian Austin (left) met with Pacific Beach community leader Andy Henshaw of "Discover PB" to help eliminate cigarette waste along Garnet Avenue and surrounding areas. Brian and Andy located 27 currently installed ashcans, and identified 10 other areas that need ashcans in busy sections of PB near bars & restaurants.

"Hold on to your butt" high school outreach

The "Hold on to your butt" committee (HOTYB) is looking for high school principals, administrators, and teachers who would like a HOTYB demonstration in their high school classroom. Students will learn the chemical and environmental dangers of cigarette butt waste, and the value and reward of volunteering, among other topics in this very relevant presentation.

For info or to schedule a high school presentation, contact Brian at austin@surfriderSD.org

Ashcan Installation in La Jolla!

On Wednesday Surfrider teamed up with the La Jolla Town Council Nell Carpenter Beautification/Streetscape Committee and I Love A Clean San Diego to install the first set of ten strategic ashcans.

Cigarette butts continue to plague San Diego as the most common litter item found each year by local environmental organizations. Recent smoking bans at beaches and parks have a positive impact but volunteers still find plenty of cigarette litter on local streets and alleyways. I Love A Clean San Diego and the Surfrider Foundation’s San Diego Chapter are taking a proactive approach to prevent this eyesore and environmental hazard.

Many thanks to Manase, Roger, Ken, Natalie, Ester, Samantha and everyone else that came out to help!

Click Here for more photos