A Clever Way to End Cigarette Litter

Chicago smokers will soon be able to vote on matters of pop culture importance with their butts.

1 minute read

September 28, 2016, 6:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Cigarette Litter Beach

Asia Images / Shutterstock

The city of Chicago is partnering with the Alliance for the Great Lakes to launch a pilot project that will set up cigarette trash bins at Chicago beaches reports Elizabeth Daigneau. The trash bins come with a clever question to encourage casting votes, via cigarette butts.

Which is the best Chicago baseball team: Cubs or Sox? Which do you prefer: Chicago dog or deep dish pizza? Toilet paper roll direction: under or over? These are just a few of the questions smokers along Chicago’s beaches are being asked this summer. 

So when a smoker tosses a butt, they can also cast their vote on these widely appealing questions. Daigneau notes that Chicago isn't the first city to implement this kind of campaign. The idea originated in London, and Boston already brought a similar program stateside.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016 in Governing

View form second story inside Southdale Mall in Edina, Minnesota with escalators and model cars parked on downstairs floor.

The Mall Is Dead — Long Live the Mall

The American shopping mall may be closer to its original vision than ever.

March 21, 2024 - Governing

View of Austin, Texas skyline with river in foreground during morning golden hour.

The Paradox of American Housing

How the tension between housing as an asset and as an essential good keeps the supply inadequate and costs high.

March 26, 2024 - The Atlantic

Houston, Texas skyline.

Report: Las Vegas, Houston Top List of Least Affordable Cities

The report assesses the availability of affordable rental units for low-income households.

March 22, 2024 - Urban Edge

Single-Family Housing Construction

Understanding Affordable Housing Lingo

20 key terms in the affordable housing discussion.

1 hour ago - Multi-Housing News

Close-up of hand holding charging cable moving toward charging port on electric car.

Undoing Biden's EV Rule

The partisan divide over how government should reduce greenhouse gas emissions was on full display after the Biden administration finalized its emissions standards rule for light and medium duty vehicles on March 20.

2 hours ago - Office of U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan

Aerial view of high-rise buildings on waterfront in Boston, Massachusetts

Boston Moves Zoning Reform Forward

The ‘Squares + Streets’ plan creates form-based zoning templates for neighborhoods that promote mixed use and denser housing near transit.

3 hours ago - The National Law Review

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.