More ashtray bins in use in Oulu

The city of Oulu is introducing new ashtray bins. The ashtrays will be installed in connection to regular park waste bins. 

In Oulu, one ashtray bin for every 600 people will be installed in early 2025, and one for every 300 citizens in early 2026. This means that there will be 720 public ashtray bins in Oulu by 2026. The bins will be located strategically throughout the city to ensure efficient collection of cigarette butts. 

Approximately four billion cigarette butts end up in nature in Finland annually. Filters do not decay biologically, and they will leave behind pieces of microplastic that pollute nature. The ashtray bins will help decrease pollutant load and keep urban areas clean. The bins are introduced as a part of the execution of the single-use plastics directive, the goal of which is to decrease littering.