Welcome to the 144th insertion of DEMUR®, an analytical series highlighting the intricacies of the artistic world and the minutiae lying within. In this episode, we find ourselves in Britain's streets sparking a conversation about ‘Ballot Bins’, climate change’s leading antagonist.
Created in partnership with London-based environmental charity, Hubbub, the Winchester Council and Instrument PD, ‘Ballot Bins’ are a creative approach to reducing litter in dense metropolitan areas. Beginning as a one-off idea, the basis of these engaging polls was to incentivize smokers to dispose of their cigarette butts correctly. By posing controversial questions, the bin invites users to cast their vote in one of two chambers, amassing a local consensus built on volume.
Noticing digital interactions uptrend as polls amassed large groups of voters on social media, the base concept strived to prompt the same competitive attitude while retaining minimal values. Transferring this idea into a physical setting without moving parts or tech allowed for a playful design that was approachable to all ages and backgrounds. The questions are easily interchanged with magnetic lettering, printed paper, or whiteboard marker, and can be mounted atop any wall or railing.
Proven to reduce cigarette litter by 46% on city streets and 74% in busy areas like shopping centers, Ballot Bins not only impact climate change positively but highlight the devastation they’ve already caused. The UN describes cigarette butts as “the most discarded waste item worldwide”, polluting the oceans and agriculture with a mere 7,000 identifiable chemicals in each. Leeching into our water, food and animals, these tips do not decompose and are commonly mistaken for small fish by birds and other wildlife.
i’ve used some of these and they do work really well, although the bigger issue is that in the uk, most bins do have a part on the top to put out cigarette butts, but no where for them to actually go and be disposed of