The welcome statewide ban on indoor smoking has resulted in the unintended consequence of many more cigarette butts being dropped on sidewalks and in the street by people smoking outside.  The butts not only look unslightly, but can be dangerous to children and animals if ingested (yes, litte kids and dogs sometimes put icky stuff in their mouths), and pollute the rivers when washed into the storm drains by rain.

 Taken on NE 3rd, 9/12/10

Think this is a minor problem? Think again.  The Portland Business Alliance funds and supervises crews to pick up trash, including cigarette butts, from the Clean and Safe district downtown.  From their July report:

Westside Community Court Work Crew statistics for July: The cigarette butt count continues! A relief crew leader got a competitive urge and picked up over 7,200 cigarette butts on July 20. A health benefit of this project is that several former crewmembers report they have quit smoking. A monthly total of over 35,000 cigarette butts were removed from the District.

Over seven thousand butts in one day. More than 35,000 in a month.  Please, smokers, take your butts to a disposal recepticle either in the street or back inside.