Rio Tinto subsidiary Northparkes Mines is the latest mining company to implement a No BuTTs Butt Litter Reduction Campaign by distributing No BuTTs Personal Ashtrays to all staff and contractors at their location.
Northparkes Mines are a copper and gold mine located in Central West NSW, 27km from the thriving and progressive town of Parkes.
In the last 12 months over 500 more mining, construction, energy & engineering based companies across Australia and around the world have implemeted No BuTTs Personal/Portable Ashtrays for distribution to their staff and contractors.
Our recent clients include Xstrata, Apex Minerals, Leightons, Downer EDI Engineering, Ross Industries, Heatleys, MineMech, Gumala, Theiss-John Holland and Boyne Smelters - another subsidiary of Rio Tinto.
"We take the issue of environmental responsibility very seriously." said Stephen Alexander, Health & Safety Officer for Northparkes Mines. "We spend millions of dollars a year to maintain best practice environmental standards and it would make an absolute mockery of our efforts not to address the problem of our employees and contractors cigarette butt littering - especially when the solution to this problem is so simple and only costs around $2 per person."
"No BuTTs butt litter reduction programs are also a great way to encourage our staff to get involved. Our 'The only butt we want to see' posters really do get the message out - so we ran a competition at our location for the most creative 'butt pic' and the resulting poster has been a hit with all of our people - even our non-smokers."
"Apart from that, probably nothing looks worse, and is more damaging to our corporate profile than our staff littering their butts in public, and it's even worse when they're in Northparkes work gear or in one of our vehicles. People do notice and it's the company that cops the bad publicity and negative connotations."
"He's absolutely spot on." said Jack Jacobson, No BuTTs Managing Director. "From a corporate image perspective it doesn't get much more damaging than staff and contractors littering their butts, especially when they're identifiable by way of corporate uniforms, hard-hats or company vehicles."
"The employee that actually does the littering is for all intents and purposes anonymous, but the company isn't, and it's their public image that cops the bad publicity - even though it's the actions of an individual that caused the problem in the first place."
"Regardless of any misconceptions, the fact is that most mining companies in Australia exemplify the highest standards of environmental responsibility - and should be commended for doing so. But it only take the public actions of one irresponsible employee or contractor, and all those efforts are for nought, because as Stephen said, people do notice, and it's the company's reputation that suffers."
"No BuTTs Mini-Butts Personal Ashtrays give smokers the abity to do the right thing with their butts, where ever they are and whenever they smoke. It's as simple as that." said Jack. "But Mini-Butts don't just eliminate cigarette butt litter, they also eliminate any excuses. It's nothing less than eco-vandalism for a smoker to ever litter their butts - and the solution is so simple."
"Australia's mining industry leads the world - and they're not stupid. The fact is that the behaviour of any organisation's smokers does have an impact on their corporate profile. Considering that they have the abilty to completely eliminate the problem of their employee and contractors cigarette butt littering - and protect and enhance their corporate image for around $2 per person, it's really a no-brainer."
"That why over 1,000 Mining, Construction & Energy based companies are now distributing No BuTTs Personal Ashtrays to their employees and contractors - and that's good for all and great for the environment."
Update: June 2010
Northparkes Mines reorders double the quantity of first order.
Northparkes Mines has reordered double the quantity of Mini-Butts they ordered for their first order.
"We're been amazed at the popularity and take up rate of our Mini-Butts Personal Ashtrays by our employees and contractors." said Stephen Alexander, Health & Safety Officer for Northparkes Mines.
"In fact we've also been receiving requests from members of the public that have seen our Mini-Butts asking if we could send them a couple - and we're happy to do it."
"It's a great way to promote our company - and help protect the environment at the same time." said Stephen.
"You can never have too many Personal Ashtrays - there's always someone else who can use them - so this time we're doubling our order to 1,000 Mini-Butts - and we're delighted to receive a free Eco-Pole Wall/Post Ashtray as a bonus and which will help reduce butt litter at our newest site office."
"We were going to order an Eco-Pole Ashtray anyway, so to receive one free just for ordering 1,000 Mini-Butts is an offer too good to miss."