Tybee Beautification has added a new champion to its anti-litter efforts, the righteous rapper (or should that be "wrapper"?) Mr. Naz T. Butt! Mr. B's efforts include visits to various schools and events in the Chatham County area, a video which debuted first on the City of Tybee's local cable access channel, but due to popular demand can also be seen on YouTube, and a coloring book which you can download to color yourself or make available to classes for anti-littering education.

In an effort to increase public awareness of the litter problems in our community, the Tybee Beautification Association has launched a major public awareness campaign throughout Chatham County. Lamar Advertising has generously donated the space and artwork for three billboards in our community. Tybee Beautification Association and the City of Tybee Island purchased the vinyl for the signs. The billboards have attracted a lot of attention and have generated a great deal of positive feedback.

The Tybee City Council recently amended its beach rules to include cigarette butts in the list of items unlawful to leave on the beach. The city also now requires beach goers to contain their trash. Beach patrols are on duty every day and will issue tickets for violations of the litter ordinance. You can be ticketed for having refuse sitting or scattered around your chair so please depose of your trash properly.

Section 1. Section 9-5-1, enacted on 5/8/03, reads in part:

Place litter in trash containers. It shall be unlawful to throw, place, deposit, sweep or scatter, or cause to be thrown, placed, deposited, swept, or scattered, any paper, food, cigarette butts, bottles, cans, trash, fruit peelings or other refuse upon the beaches or structures erected thereon. Beach goers must contain their trash at all times.

Disposable Ashtray Project

Tybee Beautification is distributing disposable ashtray dispensers to area businesses to encourage customers and employees to utilize these ashtrays rather than throwing their filters on the ground. Cigarette filters constitute a major portion of litter on our beaches and roadways; however, many people are unaware that cigarette filters are classified as a plastic and take many years to decompose.

The dispenser inserts were designed by member, Bernie Goode. Other members of the committee that helped assemble and deliver dispensers are Donna Thissen, Kathryn Williams, Iris Scarbrough, Kathy Looper, Sara Jones, and Bette Carriker.

Links

• TBA on Tobacco.org
• Tybee Island mounts campaign to end use of beach as ashtray (Jacksonville.com)
• Tybee Island council makes sure beachfront doesn't get trashed
• Butt Out!
• Leave only footprints behind you at the beach
• Stramm: The Bottle Did Her In (And Other Stuff as Well)

Free Bumper Stickers!

At the July meeting of the Tybee Beautification Association, bumper stickers were distributed to all members (pictured right). The slogan "Leave Only Your Footprints" has been around for a long time; however, this year it take on an entirely new meaning. The group wants all residents and visitors on the island to display the message, "Leave Only Your Footprints" on their cars, trucks, vans, or any other mode of transportation. The Tybee Beautification Association is providing these BUMPER STICKERS, free of charge, to anyone who will display them proudly. You can pick up your bumper sticker at the Tybee Island City Hall, the Marine Science Center, the Lighthouse Gift Shop, Lazaretto Creek Marina, the Shrine Club, the Tybee Information Center, or from any member of the Tybee Beautification Association. Please help us get the message across that we want everyone to just "Leave Only Your Footprints" -- not cigarette butts, cups, bottles, plates, diapers, wrappers, cans, beach chairs, broken toys, plastic utensils, etc.