Downtown Madison Cigarette Litter Prevention Program

Cigarette butts are the most littered items in America, and in downtown Madison. All that litter has an impact. It creates blight, is harmful to waterways, and is costly to clean up. But it doesn't have to be that way.

Madison's Central Business Improvement District (BID) has partnered with downtown businesses and the City of Madison on a Cigarette Litter Prevention pilot program, thanks in part to a grant from Keep America Beautiful. The city has installed public cigarette ash receptacles in targeted areas around the Capitol Square.

Cigarette Ash Receptacle

Tips for Reducing Cigarette Litter

For Smokers

Put cigarette butts, packages, and matches in ash receptacles. Look for public ash receptacles in the King Street and West Main Street areas, or for ash receptacles outside bars and restaurants throughout downtown.

Pocket Ashtray

For Businesses

Provide an external ash receptacle if you are not near public ones, or if there is heavy cigarette butt litter outside your business.

Provide pocket ashtrays for customers.

Clean up cigarette litter near your business.