Adbins await magistrates ruling on Addison Lee-sponsored cigarette butt receptacles

Published: 01 April 2010
by PAVAN AMARA

AN advertising firm is waiting to hear if it will be forced to remove all of its “Addison Lee” cigarette bins from prime positions across Westminster following court action.

A magistrates’ ruling whether the bins can stay in place or not is expected on April 21.  

The bins have adverts from the taxi firm Addison Lee printed on them and have been commended by some for helping to keep the streets clean.

Westminster City Council originally launched the £100,000 court battle in September 2010, stating the firm, Adbins, did not have permission to display adverts on the street.

Last month London mayor Boris Johnson was called as a witness in the case. While Adbins provide the litter receptacles, all advertising business is dealt with by Addison Lee. A spokesperson for the taxi firm said: “Since the smoking ban came into effect in 2007, business owners have been liable to be charged fines of up to £2,500, if they do not provide receptacles for litter – specifically including cigarette butts. So now, more than four years after we started providing these bins at zero cost to businesses in London, somebody at Westminster Council with too much time on their hands has decided to persecute us for helping to reduce the 2,700 tonnes of cigarette butts dropped in London streets each year. 

“Westminster argues that we need planning permission for the bins, but whenever we put the bins up, we get the permission of the restaurant. If the restaurant needs planning permission, that is a matter for them.”

Currently, 19,251 London businesses use the bins, with Addison Lee working directly with local councils to maintain and manage them.

Westminster City Council said they could not comment on an ongoing case.