In the continued promotion of cigarette litter prevention, the Georgia’s Coast is Not an Ashtray outreach effort coasts into area pubs and restaurants Aug. 24. Using “Georgia’s Coast is Not an Ashtray” branded drink coasters, participating local establishments in Georgia’s six coastal counties will reach a targeted population with educational information discouraging the littering of cigarette butts. 

Made of cellulose acetate, a type of plastic, cigarette butts do not easily biodegrade and are the nation’s No. 1 most littered item, according to local nonprofit Keep Liberty Beautiful. 

“Because cigarette butts are so small, some people do not think they are littering,” said Keep Liberty Beautiful Executive Director Karen Bell. 

“By teaming up with local restaurants and pubs, it allows us to reach a designated audience with important cigarette litter messaging with the support of the restaurants and pubs that will be using 25,000 messaged drink coasters to educate locals and visitors about cigarette litter.”

A joint educational and outreach program with Keep Liberty Beautiful, Keep Savannah Beautiful, Keep McIntosh Beautiful, Keep Camden Beautiful, Tybee Clean Beach Volunteers, the City of Tybee Island, Ft. McAllister State Park, Crooked River State Park, University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant and Keep Golden Isles Beautiful, Georgia’s Coast is Not an Ashtray is funded by a $15,000 Keep America Beautiful cigarette litter prevention program grant. 

Pubs and restaurants interested in participating should contact Keep Liberty Beautiful at 912-880-4888 or emailing klcb@libertycountyga.com. 

For more information on the campaign, contact the Keep Liberty Beautiful offices at klcb@libertycountyga.com or 912-880-4888.