Why are there no cigarette butt receptacles on the UVM campus?

In 2015, UVM officially became a tobacco-free campus and as a result removed all cigarette butt receptacles (a.k.a. "buttlers") from building entrances and from the university grounds. In 2019, student leaders expressed concern about cigarette litter near campus and advocated to have receptacles installed. 

In 2020, the Center for Health and Wellbeing suggested a pilot project and several Facilities Management units were involved. Because smoking is not allowed on campus, UVM installed buttlers on three adjacent right-of-way properties which required a Right-of-Way Encumbrance permit through the City of Burlington. The three pilot test spots were:

1. South side of Colchester Avenue at the intersection of Fletcher Place.
2. North side of Main Street opposite University Terrace, and
3. South side of Main Street at the Living & Learning bus stop. 

In a collaborative effort, Campus Planning helped secure the necessary permit, T&PS installed the receptacles on sign posts, and Custodial Services agreed to monitor and empty them as needed. After a year’s time, custodial staff reported that the containers remained empty and unused, and that monitoring these off-campus locations posed measurable disruption to the normal service routines of Custodial crews. 

In 2022, when the Encumbrance Permit (for the buttlers) was due for renewal, UVM Facilities Management made the decision to remove the receptacles entirely and put the issue to rest. 

Our conclusion remains: 

Smoking is not allowed on any part of the University campus and therefore UVM Facilities Management will not provide or service litter receptacles for this activity in any location, whether on or nearby the campus.