The popular spring cleaning campaign "Clean Rodgau" will be held in Rodgau again from 15 March to 30 April. The municipal utilities are thus supporting the state government's "Clean Hessen" environmental campaign. This campaign promotes sustainable living, environmental protection and climate neutrality. The focus of the spring clean-up is once again on cleaning up roadsides, parks, public spaces, school paths, playgrounds and grass verges. However, participating groups are asked not to collect in the forest and near-natural areas so as not to disturb the nesting and breeding season. Gloves, high-visibility waistcoats, tongs and rubbish bags will be provided and Stadtwerke Rodgau will take care of the disposal of the collected waste afterwards. In addition, a campaign will be launched under the hashtag #RodgauKippenFrei to motivate and educate people not to dispose of cigarette butts in nature, as discarded cigarette butts on pavements, meadows or in bushes are a common sight in Rodgau too. However, this careless habit not only harms the cityscape, but is also a real burden on the environment. "Many people don't even realise that the chemicals and microplastic particles contained in cigarette filters contaminate the soil and therefore the groundwater in the long term," explains Markus Ebel-Waldmann, Operations Manager at the municipal utilities company. In addition to at least 50 carcinogenic chemicals, the filters also contain cellulose acetate, which only decomposes after 10 to 15 years. One cigarette butt can therefore contaminate up to 40 litres of groundwater with harmful substances. Even sewage treatment plants are unable to completely filter out these contents. This means that there is not only a risk to groundwater, but also to health. In addition, cigarette butts in nature pose a risk to birds and other animals, as they can quickly become poisoned if ingested. Apart from the impact on nature and animals, the removal of cigarette butts is time-consuming and expensive as they get stuck in every crevice. To support this impulse, the waste disposal management department of the municipal utilities is retrofitting litter bins with ashtrays in busy places such as Puiseauxplatz. Nearby, appealing slogans are sprayed onto the tarmac using spray stencils, pointing the way to the nearest rubbish bin. The campaign is attracting additional attention thanks to the efforts of the municipal utilities employees, who are handing out practical pocket ashtrays at the recycling centre and the composting plant. The Stadtwerke mascot "Rodinchen" provides information in the social media and on the Stadtwerke Rodgau website with interesting news articles. Further information and the opportunity to register your collection campaign can be found on the website www.sauberhaftes-rodgau.de. If you have any questions, please contact the Communications and Public Relations department on 06106 693-1273, -1137 or kommunikation@rodgau.de.
