No Butts About it

No Ifs Ands or Butts

It’s a promise kept! VDA and the Esther Short Neighborhood Association, along with volunteer help from Clark College, Clark County Juvenile Justice System, and the Clark, Skamania, West Klickitat Central Labor Council have installed 24 cigarette butt receptacles throughout Downtown Vancouver.

cigarette butts near sidewalk

The promise?

Two years ago, volunteers at our downtown clean up saved every cigarette butt they found on the street. Even triple-bagged, the stench from the over 37 pounds of cigarette butts was overwhelming when the bags were brought to a City Council meeting to demonstrate the need for a plan. How would we keep our streets clean and the toxic butts out of the stormwater system which flows directly into the Columbia River? VDA promised to lead the charge.

These 24 poles, manufactured locally and funded first by a matching grant from the City of Vancouver and then by the donations of local businesses and citizens, are a great step in the right direction.

VDA thanks everyone who worked with us on this project. And, we especially thank the local businesses who will now be helping us keep the program “alive and well” by emptying the receptacles on a regular basis and encouraging their patrons to use them.

Generous donors include

  • Umpqua Bank
  • Kazoodles Toys
  • Esther Short Neighborhood Association
  • Lee and Patricia Coulthard
  • Esther Short Neighborhood Association
  • Gold Rush Restaurant
  • iQ Credit Union
  • Ginger Metcalf
  • Norris Beggs & Simpson
  • Plaid Pantry
  • Southwest Washington Convention and Visitors Bureau
  • Vancouver’s Downtown Association
  • Waste Connections

Thank You IQ Credit Union!

Not only did iQ Credit Union purchase five receptacles for their property, but also provided a match of $1,500 to the first $1,500 raised for the project. Thank you iQ.

VDA, along with the Esther Short Neighborhood Association received a $1,500 grant from the Vancouver Watershed Council to continue its work to rid downtown of cigarette butts.

This effort will keep not only our streets and sidewalks clean, but our streams and rivers as well. VDA has raised $7,000 to date to purchase and install the receptacles.

Support the effort by downloading and printing off a flyer to post in your business! If you would like a receptacle or would like to donate to the program, contact Michael Walker, VDA Executive Director, at [email protected], or 360-258-1129.

Support the effort by downloading and printing off a flyer to post in your business!

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