Since the beginning of the week, tobacconists have been distributing pocket ashtrays to smokers. This action aims to limit pollution in public spaces and Nice’s natural environment, while also reducing fire risks.
The campaign carried out by Alcome and the Confederation of Tobacconists runs throughout the week. According to Alcome, “71 member tobacconists will be mobilized to distribute over 35,000 pocket ashtrays and awareness kits for the general public. Particularly driven on this issue and in partnership with Alcome since 2023, the Nice Metropolitan Area is a partner of the event.”
Presentation of the operation
On July 1st, Vincent Zappia (President of Alcome), Claude Ferri (Vice-President of the Federation of Tobacconists of Alpes-Maritimes) and Cédric Cirasa (Deputy for Cleanliness) were present at Tabac Le Riquier to present the operation.
When Claude Ferri took the floor, he explained that the pocket ashtray was a symbol of respect, a commitment that everyone can support. “Our profession has changed profoundly” and he described tobacconists as “actors in our neighborhoods“. According to him, “ten million people come to tobacconists and when you speak to so many people, you can spread useful messages.”
He added that the beauty of our region must be protected. “We often forget what a cigarette butt really is; it doesn’t disappear, it remains.” Indeed, the cigarette filter is largely composed of cellulose acetate, which is plastic. According to the vice-president, this is a lasting and silent pollution that greatly threatens Nice’s ecosystems.
Claude Ferri also mentioned the threat of forest fires. Often smokers throw their still-hot cigarettes into nature or near wood for example. He declared: “every summer we hold our breath […] one simple careless gesture and sometimes an entire hillside catches fire.”
The solution therefore remains to properly dispose of one’s cigarette butt, using an ashtray. “When merchants decide to act together, things change.” The vice-president spoke of a profession in service of the environment. He concluded by saying “let’s make sure this reflex becomes a habit.“
Later, Cédric Cirasa added: “everyone must be an agent of cleanliness“, “the city is not dirty but it is being dirtied […] we must hold people responsible, encourage people to smoke more responsibly.”
Finally, Vincent Zappia also provided additional information. He described Nice as a “pilot and driving city” and affirmed that the work of tobacconists would allow every smoker to adopt the right gesture.
In response to a journalist’s question about smokers who throw their cigarette butts on highways, he explained “the art of communication is the art of repetition and we must repeat every day, provide education, raise awareness so that this gesture is not forgotten.”
He specified that throughout the year awareness-raising operations take place and will continue to be scheduled in the future.
Thus, this distribution of pocket ashtrays combined with the awareness campaign will likely help prevent some of the pollution as well as fires. However, the long-term effectiveness of this measure rests entirely on lasting changes in individual behavior and the repetition of educational messages. Although the pocket ashtray is a practical tool for holding smokers accountable, it will not completely eliminate incivilities without a deep collective awareness and, potentially, the application of stricter penalties for negligent behavior, particularly on roadways and in sensitive forest areas.
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