Island Roads Rejects Claims Over Marine Pollution And Cigarette Litter

Island Roads has been accused of failing to help tackle marine pollution and the littering of cigarette ends, which an Isle of Wight parish councillor says “all end up in the sea”.

However, in a statement jointly agreed with the Isle of Wight Council, Island Roads said it was “concerned” by the comments, which it believes reflect a misunderstanding of the highways contractor’s responsibilities.

“Cigarette ends are the most littered item anywhere,” Cllr Rebecca Hardie told Nettlestone and Seaview Parish Council last week.

“A lot of people don’t realise they have plastic in them. They think they’re just stubbing something out which is biodegradable — it absolutely isn’t.”

Reporting back from a recent conference hosted by community group Planet Aware, Cllr Hardie said marine pollution was high on the agenda.

She said many people attending the forum raised concerns about a lack of bins in certain locations, difficulties getting them emptied and complaints about Island Roads.

According to Planet Aware, cigarette butts can take up to 14 years to break down, releasing toxins and microplastics into the environment in the process.

“Everybody’s complaint was about Island Roads and how they don’t help at all,” Cllr Hardie said.

The councillor said she had also discussed the issue with the Old Fort and Seaview Yacht Club and suggested installing a cigarette collection box at the toilet block at Seagrove Bay.

Parish council clerk Brian Jennings said he would look into the costs and place the item on the agenda for the next meeting.

Cllr Hardie also highlighted an initiative introduced by Ryde Town Council, involving a so-called “ballot box” bin. The scheme allows members of the public to vote on options such as “Which is the best film — Jaws or Finding Nemo?” by placing their cigarette butt into a corresponding section of the bin.

She said a similar idea had been proposed for Ventnor but did not go ahead due to permission issues, adding that “much of it was to do with Island Roads”.

In response, an Island Roads spokesperson said:

“We are concerned by the councillor’s comments which appear to reflect a misunderstanding of Island Roads’ responsibilities.

“Island Roads empties bins across the Island diligently and in line with the service levels set out in our contract with the Isle of Wight Council.

“It is not within our gift to simply add more bins without the agreement and funding of the local authority.

“While we share concerns about the environmental impact of discarded cigarette ends, and routinely remove cigarette ends and other litter from gully water — processing it responsibly to prevent it from entering the marine environment — there is a fundamental need to address public behaviour.

“Discarded cigarette ends are an environmental littering offence. Where they become street waste, there is a risk they may enter watercourses or drainage systems.”