Lack of Cigarette Bins Outside Stations

[Butts]

A lot of the Stations I use regularly (Falkirk Grahamston, Uphall, Edinburgh Park and Falkirk High) provide no such facilities.

As a consequence the perimeter of the entry is festooned with discarded butts resulting in an eyesore.

Is there any reason for the absence of somewhere to discard smoking detritus ?

 

[contrex]

Is there any reason smokers can't be civic minded and keep their filthy debris until they get to a bin? I say that with all the zeal of someone who gave up smoking 2 years ago (no relapses) and once got penalty-charged £70 by a warden for chucking a dog-end on the pavement in Bristol.

 

[Butts]

Is there any reason smokers can't be civic minded and keep their filthy debris until they get to a bin? I say that with all the zeal of someone who gave up smoking 2 years ago (no relapses) and once got penalty-charged £70 by a warden for chucking a dog-end on the pavement in Bristol.

In the absence of bins and I always try and use a drain for disposal.

 

[styles]

Not really sure the sewage system is designed for cigarette butts either. Can't the butt just go back into the packet until later? It's what I do with cigarillo ends.

That said, I do think cigarette bins would be helpful at larger stations at least.

 

[Steddenm]

In the absence of bins and I always try and use a drain for disposal.

That can also get you a penalty if you are seen - happened to me in Manchester. Something to do with the Environment Act. I appealed it and won as the "officer" had entered private premises to "talk" to me. They cannot do that.

Also, on the subject of cigarette bins, I agree that they should be outside of stations, but in Scotland there is some rules about smoking within so many metres of an entrance as well which is probably why they aren't there. Most stations should have them, or clearly signed as being a non-smoking area and that fines could be sought.

 

[Butts]

Not really sure the sewage system is designed for cigarette butts either. Can't the butt just go back into the packet until later? It's what I do with cigarillo ends.

That said, I do think cigarette bins would be helpful at larger stations at least.

I've heard of "Fatbergs " but not "Fagbergs"

 

[styles]

I've heard of "Fatbergs " but not "Fagbergs"

It depends if it's combined drainage or not.

The UK has two drainage systems.

The first is combined drainage where the water from inside homes and businesses is combined with surface water from the streets and this all goes to treatment works.

The second is separate drainage, where the water from inside homes and businesses goes to treatment works and the surface water goes directly to the sea, rivers, streams.

I doubt many people disposing of cigarette butts know which drainage system a particular drain is connected to, so there's a fair chance your cigarette butts are going into the sea or other waterways.

Even if it was combined drainage, I'm pretty sure they'd get caught up in fatbergs, not to mention the leaking of nicotine and the harmful chemicals in cigarettes.

It's irresponsible and lazy.

 

[Butts]

That can also get you a penalty if you are seen - happened to me in Manchester. Something to do with the Environment Act. I appealed it and won as the "officer" had entered private premises to "talk" to me. They cannot do that.

Also, on the subject of cigarette bins, I agree that they should be outside of stations, but in Scotland there is some rules about smoking within so many metres of an entrance as well which is probably why they aren't there. Most stations should have them, or clearly signed as being a non-smoking area and that fines could be sought.

Perhaps they should introduce Raucherbereiche akin to Germany on open platforms?

 

[The exile]

Perhaps they should introduce Raucherbereiche akin to Germany on open platforms?

Would suggest special sealed rooms fitted with filters on the ventilation so none of the vile smelling pollution ever enters the atmosphere.

 

[Butts]

Would suggest special sealed rooms fitted with filters on the ventilation so none of the vile smelling pollution ever enters the atmosphere.

Seriously I think unofficial smoking areas already exist - Up here safely removed from the Metropolitan Elite Zealots in Glasgow/Edinburgh disembarkation at Crianlarich for the Oban Split enables one to re-enter a "Brief Encounter" moment with the associated fug as everyone lights up.

 

[superalbs]

The cigarette bins should be placed far from the entrances, to discourage smoking there. Last thing I want when leaving a station after a long ride on a terrible train is cigarette smoke.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Nov 2025 ==

Perhaps they should introduce Raucherbereiche akin to Germany on open platforms?

No.

 

[Recessio]

Even the stations with cigarette bins are bad enough - look at the state of the exterior parts of Euston, for example

 

[AlterEgo]

One of the most attractive things about the railway in the UK is the complete hostility to smoking, long may it continue.

 

[Russel]

Maybe don't have cigarettes bins right outside the station entrance, as a non smoker walking through a cloud of smoke is never nice.

 

[ainsworth74]

The cigarette bins should be placed far from the entrances, to discourage smoking there.

Maybe don't have cigarettes bins right outside the station entrance, as a non smoker walking through a cloud of smoke is never nice.

Absolutely. By all means have bins for the disposal of cigarettes but they should be nowhere near station entrances.

 

[superalbs]

One of the most attractive things about the railway in the UK is the complete hostility to smoking, long may it continue.

Agreed, it's a breath of fresh air - if you'll pardon the pun.

 

[Butts]

Absolutely. By all means have bins for the disposal of cigarettes but they should be nowhere near station entrances.

Which results in them being dumped on the deck

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Nov 2025 ==

Agreed, it's a breath of fresh air - if you'll pardon the pun.

You are a bit out of kilter with the people where you reside ?

 

[Trainlog]

One of the most attractive things about the railway in the UK is the complete hostility to smoking, long may it continue.

This is another benefit of taking the train over the bus. At bus stops, it's not uncommon for someone else to sit on the bench and just light up a cigarette or use a vape, I am not too phased if the smoker does ask if its okay to smoke/vape first, limits the amount and does everything possible to not make it your problem, but when they light it up literally 1 meter away from you and doesn't ask it is up there with people having loud phonecalls/playing videos without headphones, and really poor bus services as a key bus peeve of mine.

At bus stations, it's hardly enforced as a rule, though there is supposed to be some enforcement. Trains/train stations are at least much better at enforcing the anti-smoking rule and it does make the train station experience better for it, though vaping seems harder to enforce rulewise.

 

[Butts]

Agreed, it's a breath of fresh air - if you'll pardon the pun.

Hot Air I'd say.

 

[ainsworth74]

Which results in them being dumped on the deck

I mean if you're not going to go and smoke where there is a bin to deal with the detritus then you deserve the fixed penalty notice for littering if you just dump it

 

[Butts]

One of the most attractive things about the railway in the UK is the complete hostility to smoking, long may it continue.

You've obviously never visited Crianlarich Station - even the staff are lighting up.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Which results in them being dumped on the deck

Only by those who find littering acceptable. To be honest I'm all for enforcement in these cases, littering is a dirty habit, one of the absolute worst. Fines can cover the cost of enforcement. There can never be an excuse for littering.

If you smoke, you should carry a pocket ashtray to dispose of your cigarettes until you reach a suitable bin.

 

[Butts]

This is another benefit of taking the train over the bus. At bus stops, it's not uncommon for someone else to sit on the bench and just light up a cigarette or use a vape, I am not too phased if the smoker does ask if its okay to smoke/vape first, limits the amount and does everything possible to not make it your problem, but when they light it up literally 1 meter away from you and doesn't ask it is up there with people having loud phonecalls/playing videos without headphones, and really poor bus services as a key bus peeve of mine.

At bus stations, it's hardly enforced as a rule, though there is supposed to be some enforcement. Trains/train stations are at least much better at enforcing the anti-smoking rule and it does make the train station experience better for it, though vaping seems harder to enforce rulewise.

Good God man are you never satisfied ?

How would you have coped when you could smoke on the bus !!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Nov 2025 ==

Only by those who find littering acceptable. To be honest I'm all for enforcement in these cases, littering is a dirty habit, one of the absolute worst. Fines can cover the cost of enforcement. There can never be an excuse for littering.

If you smoke, you should carry a pocket ashtray to dispose of your cigarettes until you reach a suitable bin.

Strange you never see any enforcement late at night - they just target the low hanging fruit ?

 

[superalbs]

Which results in them being dumped on the deck

Fine them then.

You've obviously never visited Crianlarich Station - even the staff are lighting up.

So then fine them too.

Hot Air I'd say.

No, it's definitely fresh air.

Good God man are you never satisfied ?

How would you have coped when you could smoke on the bus !!

We have now progressed as a society, this is a good thing to be celebrated. We should not make fun of those who are happy with this progress.

 

[styles]

Good God man are you never satisfied ?

How would you have coped when you could smoke on the bus !!

Probably by getting sick from second hand smoke.

Strange you never see any enforcement late at night - they just target the low hanging fruit ?

I expect overall littering levels are higher during the day when more people are about? A question for the LA though.

 

[Ian Hardy]

I could imagine that any fag bins that existed were removed at the same time as proper bins were removed when the terrorist threat level increased as people could leave bombs in them.

They haven't returned because if the bins aren't there then the railway doesn't need pay someone to empty them; more seriously though, as the bins are outside the station entrance, they are in the street and therefore not on land owned by the railway, so the railway would need to seek the permission of the relevant local authority to install them.

 

[AlterEgo]

Probably by getting sick from second hand smoke.

Yes indeed. Vile. My parents were smokers when I was young and it gave me frequent headaches. Fortunately for everyone they gave up after I got pneumonia as it would have harmed my recovery.

 

[Butts]

Fine them then.


So then fine them too.


No, it's definitely fresh air.


We have now progressed as a society, this is a good thing to be celebrated. We should not make fun of those who are happy with this progress.

Neat swerve on the situation in Krakow

Have you ever been to Crianlarich ? - Just who is going to fine anyone ? Are the staff going to fine themselves ?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Have you ever been to Crianlarich ? - Just who is going to fine anyone ? Are the staff going to fine themselves ?

If someone is going to drop litter somewhere as lovely as that because walking to the nearest bin is just too much effort then they really are the lowest of the low.

 

[superalbs]

Neat swerve on the situation in Krakow

Have you ever been to Crianlarich ? - Just who is going to fine anyone ? Are the staff going to fine themselves ?

A little surprise spot-check wouldn't harm anyone.