City kicks off anti-littering campaign

Animal & Bylaw Services is kicking-off a public education campaign this week encouraging all Calgarians to help keep our city clear of litter.

“Having a litter-free city makes Calgary a clean, healthy and desirable place to live while increasing community pride and safety,” says Bylaw Services Director Bill Bruce.

Bruce also points out that garbage and cigarette butts in lawns and parks are not only unsightly, but pose potential fire risks, as we’ve seen in the past few weeks with several grass and house fires around the city and surrounding areas.

As part of the campaign, the City will be handing out car litter bags as well as “˜stubbies’, small bins for cigarette butts and gum. Calgarians can pick these up at the Second Cup in Westhills today between 10:30 am and 12:30 pm, or tomorrow at the Second Cup locations in Sunridge (between 8:00am and 10:00 am) and Killarney (12:00pm – 2:00pm).

Any Calgarians caught littering will receive a $500 fine. That increases to $750 if caught littering from a vehicle, and $1,000 for improper disposal of burning litter, such as cigarettes.