The president of the qathet Climate Alliance wants Powell River will do something about cigarette butts littering the city wharf.
Speaking to a council committee Tuesday night, Jan Slakov says she noticed the “disgusting” site after moving to Texada Island two years ago.
“I began regularly using the ferry terminal and I noticed that there’s lots of cigarette butts littering the city dock right near the terminal which stands to reason. You’re not allowed to smoke on ferry property so people go to the city dock and I began picking up those butts but it’s pretty disgusting,” Slakov said.
“Cigarette butts are toxic. They’re not biodegradable and they’re a major threat to marine ecosystems…and these filters leech over 7,000 chemicals, at least 50 of which are known carcinogens,” she said.
In addition to some sort of container, Slakov would like city council’s support for a cigarette butt deposit return system at the Union of B.C. Municipalities.
Slakov said she tried her own solution by putting a sand-filled coffee can with a sign at the dock but it disappeared.
Councillor Cindy Elliott indicated she would support taking the matter to UBCM and encouraged Slakov to work with a city councillor.
A report on a solution will come to a future city council meeting.
