With 200 million cigarette butts being discarded every day in the UK and 28 million people chewing gum, streets are in danger of turning into giant ashtrays.

Councils and businesses from across the country have been snapping up state-of-the art 'gumcatchers' and 'buttcatchers' - stylish, pod-shaped bins designed specifically for the swift and easy disposal of cigarette ends and chewing gum.

Known as "Smartbins", the eye-catching micro litter bins are a brand new solution to gum and cigarette litter and have been created from recycled cast-offs such as soft drinks cans and engine blocks. They are vandal-resistant and fire-proof and uniquely, are designed to wrap around virtually any lamp-post, sign post, railing or bollard as well as fitting on to bus shelters and flat walls. Smartbins not only provide a stylish way of ensuring that your premises stay presentable - they could save your customers from a £50* on-the-spot fine.

The bins' engaging design features useful restricting liner fronts which keep larger litter out. A stubbing-out lip built into the opening enables cigarettes to be extinguished safely and the butts and ash slip into the hidden liner below. The removable stainless steel interior liner is fire and stick-resistant and will provide years of trouble-free use. The bins can also be unlocked and emptied in seconds.

Each bin has a discreet badge area for branding, enabling organisations to show users that they are supporting a cleaner environment. Weather resistant 'pointer' graphics and non-slip pavement stickers with catchy slogans can be added alongside the bins to provide a localised awareness boost and to encourage your customers to dispose of cigarette butts and chewing gum responsibly.

The Smartbins are the creation of designers Andrew Farish and Chris Garcin, of Smartstreets Ltd, who spent two years developing the products in the run up to England's Smoking Ban. The project started when they were approached by a council which wanted an architecturally-sensitive new solution to help them eradicate cigarette and gum litter that struck the right balance between being noticeable yet not overbearing.

Says Managing Director Andrew Farish: "We have had a fantastic response to the Smartbins and our customers have been delighted to see the dramatic difference the products can make. Seventeen councils have signed up since February this year and many private businesses are installing the bins for their own use as they're seeing how well they are getting used on the streets.

"The Smartbins are secure, durable, easy-to-empty and vandal-proof, and importantly they look good. The bins have been designed to tackle the problem of micro litter by providing convenient disposal points without cluttering up the street scene.

"Existing customers include councils, banks, offices, hotels, pubs and casinos and the response to date has been overwhelmingly positive, with organisations reporting a huge reduction in micro litter around their premises since installing the Smartbins."

Prices start at £225* per Smartbin plus VAT with volume discounts negotiable. Based on the amount of gum and smoking related litter normally collected, each bin will pay for itself within weeks of installation based on the comparable clean up cost.

* Price correct at time of publication - 14th August 2007

Email: k.carpenter@travelpr.co.uk