Alcala-Alcossebre will distribute 5,000 ashtrays to stop cigarette ends being dropped on the beaches
![[Img #79211]](http://el7set.es/upload/images/07_2020/2514_1707-conos-playa-oficina-turismo.jpg)
Alcala-Alcossebre Council Tourism Department is starting a campaign to distribute ashtrays, with the aim of preventing cigarette ends being dropped on the local beaches because of the environmental damage they cause. According to the experts, each cigarette end can contaminate 8 to 10 litres of sea water and the death of birds and cetaceans can be caused by eating them.
This year also, as part of the health context resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, eliminating cigarette ends from the beaches would mean a preventive measure against the infection. In this way, Tourism councillor, Selene Blázquez, explained that “we want to reduce any behaviour which could mean danger of infection, as much as possible and for this reason preventing cigarette ends being left on the beaches is another measure in the fight against COVID-19”.
Blázquez said that “for the coming year, we shall study setting up some of our beaches as smoke-free spaces, promoting healthy habits and contributing to the fight against the tobacco habit. Studying this question started this year but, due to the pandemic and all that it meant, we preferred to study it in depth and introduce it next year”.
The ashtrays, which are already available, can be obtained completely free from the Alcossebre Tourist Office and from all the Lifesaving and Rescue service posts. COVID-19 Safe-Beaches Agents will also have them to distribute among beach-goers who ask for them. They are manufactured with a recycled material and carry the local tourist logo design.
The Tourism councillor requested “everyone’s responsibility, caution and respect for the safety regulations and advice to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and prevent further outbreaks”.
Alcala-Alcossebre Council Tourism Department is starting a campaign to distribute ashtrays, with the aim of preventing cigarette ends being dropped on the local beaches because of the environmental damage they cause. According to the experts, each cigarette end can contaminate 8 to 10 litres of sea water and the death of birds and cetaceans can be caused by eating them.
This year also, as part of the health context resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, eliminating cigarette ends from the beaches would mean a preventive measure against the infection. In this way, Tourism councillor, Selene Blázquez, explained that “we want to reduce any behaviour which could mean danger of infection, as much as possible and for this reason preventing cigarette ends being left on the beaches is another measure in the fight against COVID-19”.
Blázquez said that “for the coming year, we shall study setting up some of our beaches as smoke-free spaces, promoting healthy habits and contributing to the fight against the tobacco habit. Studying this question started this year but, due to the pandemic and all that it meant, we preferred to study it in depth and introduce it next year”.
The ashtrays, which are already available, can be obtained completely free from the Alcossebre Tourist Office and from all the Lifesaving and Rescue service posts. COVID-19 Safe-Beaches Agents will also have them to distribute among beach-goers who ask for them. They are manufactured with a recycled material and carry the local tourist logo design.
The Tourism councillor requested “everyone’s responsibility, caution and respect for the safety regulations and advice to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and prevent further outbreaks”.
