First and last CA fee to cleanup cigarette litter (Cigarette Litter Abatement Fee Ordinance)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
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How you can benefit
In 2009, San Francisco experienced 25% of cigarette butt and packaging litter, and spent over $6 million a year to clean them. So the city created the Cigarette Litter Abatement Fee Ordinance to collect $0.20 when a customer buys a cigarette pack. The fee funds the Environment Cigarette Litter Abatement Fund.
Why it's a leading policy
This is the first and possibly last ordinance of its kind in California because Proposition 26 now requires a two thirds super-majority vote in the State Legislature to pass fees, levies, charges and tax revenue allocations. Previously, only a simple majority vote was required.
Goal
To fund costs to clean up cigarette litter.
Who can take action
Retailers of cigarettes.
Outcome
Some of the revenue goes to the Treasurer to administer fees. The rest goes to the Department of Public Works to cleanup litter. The ordinance generates about $5 million annually.
Contact
Soko Made, City Government Zero Waste Assistant, San Francisco Department of Environment, (415) 355-3739, Soko.Made@sfgov.org
Last Updated
September 25, 2015