NEWS

Thanks to the Local Government Division’s ‘Lokalitajiet Aktar Nodfa’ scheme, the Eastern Regional Council encouraged all localities forming part of the Eastern Region to apply for Ballot Box Cigarette Bins as part of ongoing efforts to reduce cigarette butt littering and promote cleaner public spaces.

So far, two cigarette bins have been installed in Birkirkara and one in Gżira, with more installations scheduled during the coming months.

Ballot Box Cigarette Bins are specially designed ash bins that engage the public through interactive voting questions. Smokers dispose of their cigarette butts by choosing between two answers displayed on the bin, effectively “casting a vote” with their cigarette end. This simple but creative concept turns proper disposal into an engaging activity, encouraging participation and increasing awareness about littering.

These bins have proven highly effective in reducing cigarette butt litter because they combine behavioural psychology with public engagement. By making disposal fun, visible, and interactive, people are more likely to use the bins instead of discarding cigarette ends on the ground. The transparent design also allows the public to see the growing number of “votes,” further encouraging participation and helping create cleaner and more environmentally responsible communities.