Butts to trigger charitable donations

The San Rafael Clean Coalition, California, was due yesterday to install a ‘cigarette eater meter’ at the San RafaelCityPlaza, according to a story in the Marin Independent Journal.

The idea is that people will use the device as a repository for cigarette butts and, in doing so, trigger a charitable donation.

For every butt deposited, 1 cent will go to the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

And once the meter hits 100,000 butts, local businesses will contribute $1,000.

The project is funded by the Marin County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program and Bellam Self Storage and Boxes, with additional funds from local businesses.

The clean coalition is a volunteer group.