Keep your butts out of parks

The Butte County Public Health Department’s Tobacco Education Program is cracking down on cigarette-butt litter in Oroville’s parks.

The Clean Fun in Oroville campaign was launched after youth volunteers from the Oroville Boys and Girls Club Leaders in Training program conducted 30-minute cigarette-cleanup events at five of the city’s parks. The kids collected 1,725 butts in all, most of which were found near picnic tables, shore lines, and even in playground areas, where smoking is prohibited by California law.

The campaign will include radio and print advertisements discouraging smokers from improperly disposing of their tobacco litter. Cigarette butts can harm the environment and cause nausea and vomiting in children who swallow them.