Central Maitland is smouldering in a filthy haze of cigarette smoke as irresponsible workers discard their butts on city streets, footpaths and gardens.
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The tens of thousands of butts are not only littering the ground, they have also sparked fires in garden beds causing offices to be evacuated and the fire brigade to be called.
While Hunter New England health employees came under fire recently for littering an old bus stop outside Maitland Hospital, the latest offenders are workers at Maitland’s 555 High Street complex.
Smokers have provided a carpet of butts outside offices, along streets and in landscaped gardens.
Butts line the complex from The Mercury offices at the western end of the commercial complex, along a driveway and car park to Anlaby Street on the eastern end of the development.
It is in Anlaby Street where literally thousands of butts have been discarded on the road, footpath and in a garden covered in bark chips.
Sykes call centre and Mai-Wel offices are two of the biggest employers in the centre. Sykes did not return The Mercury’s calls for comments.
Mai-Wel CEO Pennie Kearney said 555 High Street was a non-smoking site and Mai-Wel staff were very aware of that and complied with that rule.
“I agree that butts are left on the ground and it is unacceptable and looks dreadful and on some occasions we have asked smokers to move on when they come near our door,” she said.
A butt bin had been attached to a telegraph pole in the street however it has been left overflowing and as a result butts are flicked elsewhere.
Employees from another businesses close to the site told The Mercury workers stubbed butts out on a telegraph pole which, on some occasions, had been left smouldering.
“Our clients are always made aware this is a non-smoking complex but once they leave we have no control however on the choices of individuals,” Ms Kearney said.
She said there was a fire in a garden near the Mai-Wel offices about 18 months ago and occupants were evacuated.
The scene has appalled Maitland councillor Loretta Baker. “Cigarette butts do not break down they are not biodegradable and they end up in our waterways and the ocean,” she said. “Smokers need to take responsibility.”
Cr Baker spoke to a representative from Sykes. She said that, to her credit, the representative called a meeting and immediately attempted to clean up the butts.
“However, there are still many butts littering the street, garden and gutters outside their offices,” she said.
