In an effort to prevent the proliferation of cigarette butts, French ski resort Les Gets has banned smoking on the slopes, a first in Europe.
“Les Gets, territory without cigarette butts,” the municipality’s new campaign slogan goes, according to CNN. In 2022, more than 3,000 butts were found in the ski area and in the village of Les Gets during a cleanup day, according to the resort’s website.
When the skiing season began at Les Gets on Saturday, several changes had been implemented. Smoking was banned on the chairlifts and in the skiing area, but five smoking areas, replete with ballot box-shaped ashtrays made from recycled skis, were set up for smokers.