news-record.com

GREENSBORO — The next time you're downtown, check out the sidewalks. They're littered with cigarette butts, especially in the cracks.

One day recently, downtown cleaning crews collected more than 800 butts in a three-block area.

"People don't think of them as litter," Sherry Adams, interim president of Downtown Greensboro Inc., said of the butts. "They're not biodegradable. They wash down the storm drain."

Thanks to Adams and Keep America Beautiful, help has arrived.

Earlier this month, Adams applied for a $2,500 grant from the national nonprofit beautification group to pay for a cigarette litter prevention program.

With the grant came 1,000 free pocket ashtrays. Made of hard plastic and metal, they look like old-time coin purses. Downtown cleaning crews began passing them out Wednesday.

Officials at Keep America Beautiful say cigarette litter problems have increased as laws have forced people outside to smoke.

Contact Donald W. Patterson at 373-7027 or donpatterson@news-record.com