Results revealed in Wrightsville Beach smoking ban study

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Back in 2012 voters supported the smoking ban on the beach strand at Wrightsville Beach and it went into effect 2013. Thursday night town leaders learned if the ban was working.

Sara Melick, UNCW graduate student, presented to the board of alderman the results of her research project.

Melick said she compiled research from the chemistry department and Wrightsville Beach Keep It Clean organization that had collected  cigarette butts over the years. She  said the number of cigarette butts collected on the beach was reduced by half in the first year of the smoking ban and continued to fall.

“Large drop in the number of cigarette butts, we found but we still think it’s really important to enforce the ban and continue the awareness because it’ll help keep these levels down,” said Melick.

Melick recommended town leaders put better signs at a few of the beach accesses and the cigarette butt bins be emptied out more often.

She said cigarettes are still the majority of the trash found on the beach but the ban has made a significant impact.

Tim Taylor said he has lived in Wrightsville beach since 2008. He said he helped get petitioned signed to take get the ban on the ballot for voters.

Taylor said some people were skeptical the ban would be successful.

“They said first of all it will never pass and it would never work,” said Taylor. “I’m glad that it did pass in 2012 and it is working.”