New powers are being sought by London boroughs to stop council taxpayers shelling out to pay for cleaning up cigarette butts. Since the smoking ban came into force in July, forcing all smokers to go outside for a cigarette, Keep Britain Tidy estimates a 43% increase in the number of cigarette butts dumped on England's streets. Smoking-related litter now makes up to 40% of the rubbish found on the country's streets, and costs £200m a year to clean up, according to the environmental charity. London Councils, on behalf of all of the capital's 32 boroughs, is lobbying for changes in the law so that councils can get owners of buildings such as offices, train stations and hospitals to clear the litter around their premises. Cllr Merrick Cockell, chairman of London Councils said: ‘We all have a responsibility to keep London a clean and pleasant place, but the cost of this should not fall on the council taxpayer.'
