Bounty on Cigarette Butts in Downtown Rochester

The “Butt Kickers!” of John Adams accept the Challenge on Friday, June 1st

Have you noticed the cigarette butts on the ground as you walk around the streets of Downtown Rochester? According to Keep America Beautiful, 85% of all cigarette butts smoked in public become litter. These butts are an eyesore in our community and are a threat to the health of waterways. Enough is enough. It is time for behavior to change in Rochester.

The Rochester Downtown Alliance and the and the Make Rochester A Litter Butt Better! program have placed a bounty on cigarette butts in the downtown area and the “Butt Kickers!” of John Adams Middle School have answered the call. On Friday, June 1st a group of 20 “Butt Kickers!” will travel via public transportation to downtown Rochester and pick up littered cigarette butts. Each retrieved butt will prevent harm to the environment, make Rochester more attractive, and earn $0.05 for the John Adams Science Alive! Lab.

Keep an eye out for the “Butt Kickers!” on Friday, June 1st. Thank them for their efforts. Follow their example and pick up litter, including cigarette butts. And if you are a smoker, put your butts in an appropriate place so these kids don’t have to pick up after you again in the future.

WHAT: The Rochester Downtown Alliance and the Make Rochester A Litter Butt Better! program have offered a bounty on cigarette butt litter and “Butt Kickers!” of John Adams Middle School have answered the call.

WHO: John Adams Middle School students will be dressed in red t-shirts to be easily identified.

WHEN: Friday, June 1st from 7:40 am to 2:30 pm (with a break at Bilotti’s for lunch)

WHERE: Downtown Rochester.

For more information on this initiative contact Jon Eckhoff of the Rochester Downtown Alliance at 507-424-5677 or by email.

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