Title
To Recognize and Celebrate Kick-Butt Columbus! in Partnership with Keep Columbus Beautiful.
Body
WHEREAS, Kick-Butt Columbus! is an annual spring highway ramp clean up event created to remove blighted conditions from the exit and entry ramps in the City of Columbus after winter thaw and raise awareness about the hazards of cigarette butt litter to the environment as about 95% of cigarette filters are composed of cellulose acetate, a form of plastic which does not quickly degrade and can persist in the environment; and
WHEREAS, Kick-Butt Columbus! hosts their 8th Annual event March 19, 2016; and
WHEREAS, litter in general is one of the most difficult problems to control in our city, especially on entry and exit ramps leading to and from neighborhoods and city hot spot destinations; and
WHEREAS, the litter accumulation is most disturbing after winter thaw. Food containers, cans, glass and plastic bottles, plastic and paper bags, gum, newspaper and cigarette butts line the grassy slopes and fence lines on our city's roadway ramps; and
WHEREAS, thanks to the efforts of Kick-Butt Columbus! last year 480 volunteers collected 1,020 bags containing trash and litter were collected off highway ramps in the City of Columbus amounting to 15.3 tons in addition to 3.4 tons of recyclable materials, and 165,643 total cigarette butts; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby recognize and celebrate Kick-Butt Columbus! In Partnership with Keep Columbus Beautiful and encourages Columbus residents to help prevent the accumulation of litter in our city and consider participating in Kick-Butt Columbus! next year in March of 2017.