ROCK ISLAND, Illinois -- Jeffery Rusk, owner of Steve's Old Time Tap, requested three months ago to have a cigarette-butt placed receptacle outside of his bar. Only now after receiving multiple complaints has the city agreed to his request.
ROCK ISLAND, Illinois -- Jeffery Rusk, owner of Steve's Old Time Tap, requested three months ago to have a cigarette-butt placed receptacle outside of his bar. Only now after receiving multiple complaints has the city agreed to his request.
Since the smoking ban took effect in January, Illinois bar owners have noticed the endless supply of cigarette butts piling up outside their businesses.
To handle this new excess of litter, the city of Peoria has already placed outdoor receptacles, called "personal ashtrays," on their streets.
Rock Island was originally opposed to installing a similar form of ashtray.
"We did initially say we didn't want people to just put things out in the public right away," said John Phillips, City Manager.
Now that the city has received multiple complaints, Rock Island is installing outside ashtrays for bar owners at no charge.
Rusk responded to the city's decision, "I think its great. It will help out and hopefully smokers will put the butts in it."
Each ashtray costs $40, and Rock Island plans to meet with bar owners to decide what they will look like and where they should be placed.