Copenhagen is one of the cleanest cities I have ever visited,

June 6, 2001 6:20 AM

Copenhagen is one of the cleanest cities I have ever visited, so what does this mean for the rest of us? My wife and I were a bit troubled when our house guest told us he flicked his butt from our balcony; it's likely that his flying butt did not land on the street--more likely on the balcony two floors below. Quelle horreur!
posted by Dick Paris (10 comments total)

I was a little confused by the "flying butt" comment. Now it makes sense...I think.
posted by eau at 7:22 AM on June 6, 2001

Imagine, Pack-a-dayers: ~365packs x 20per pack = 7300 butts per person.

The world is not your ashtray, please use one.
posted by tomplus2 at 7:36 AM on June 6, 2001

Cigarette butts are indeed the most evil piece of trash ever inflicted on this planet. They're everywhere. And I can't stand it, but what can you do? Smokers, take note, this issue should be your campaign. Every cigarette butt I see in the cracks of the sidewalks and elsewhere reinforces the stereotype in my head that smokers really don't care how trashy they make their city look and that they have little regard for public space.
posted by daveadams at 8:23 AM on June 6, 2001

What bothers me the most are drivers who throw butts out the windows of their cars. They have an ashtray in their car, but they would prefer to mess up the streets or take the risk that the butt will fly into a fellow-driver's vehicle.

The way to reduce public smoking is to start enforcing litter laws. Give smokers an incentive. Dispose of your butts properly or pay a hefty fine.
posted by neuroshred at 8:44 AM on June 6, 2001

Drivers who empty their car ashtrays when stopped at a red light. They. Must. Be. Caught. And. Punished.
posted by holgate at 9:26 AM on June 6, 2001

How about when drivers fill the ashtrays in their cars and, when the ashtray is full, then dump its contents onto the street/sidewalk/parking lot?
posted by Dick Paris at 9:30 AM on June 6, 2001

Dag, Holgate won the draw.
posted by Dick Paris at 9:31 AM on June 6, 2001

I agree with you neuroshred, nothing like getting a butt on the arm as I drive behind some idiot. I'd be happy if they'd at least put the f*cking things out before they tossed them.
posted by DiplomaticImmunity at 11:49 AM on June 6, 2001

Normally I hate almost any mention of fining people or new laws, but yeah, I agree with fining these inconsiderate pricks wholeheartedly.
Better yet, if caught, you should be forced to eat the offending waste.
posted by dong_resin at 3:44 PM on June 6, 2001

I've become so self-conscious of my butt(s) that I find myself digging into pockets and finding butts from who knows when. It all started with being in the outdoors, snowboarding, camping and so on. I agree ashtray dumping should be,at least, a misdemeanor. Now if I can build up the courage to say something to all the kids that hang out in front of my house throwing their cigs and beer bottles onto the sidewalk.
posted by McShrimp at 4:29 PM on June 6, 2001