News and Events
Tobacco Free Partnership Hosts Successful Park Clean-Up Event
October 1, 2024
On September 21, 2024, the Tobacco Free Partnership of Okeechobee hosted a park clean-up at the Okeechobee County Sports Complex, focusing on all litter while emphasizing tobacco-related waste. This impactful event was a collaboration with Okeechobee County Parks and Recreation and coincided with the unveiling of the new splash pad and the Family Fun Day celebration.
Community members, SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco) youth, and TFP members worked together to beautify the park and raise awareness about the prevalence of tobacco litter. Cigarette butts, often mistaken as biodegradable, are the most commonly littered item worldwide, with 4.5 trillion discarded each year. In addition to cigarette waste, the team collected numerous disposable vapes, which are a growing environmental hazard due to their plastic and battery components.'
“Tobacco litter is not just unsightly; it’s a significant pollutant that harms our environment and wildlife,” said TFP Member, Brandi Flaschner. “Through events like this, we hope to inspire our community to take action and understand the importance of proper waste disposal.” By combining community service with education and fun, the Tobacco Free Partnership and its partners demonstrated how collective efforts can make a lasting impact.
The Tobacco Free Partnership of Okeechobee County is dedicated to the creation of tobacco-free social norms through a combination of community education, youth advocacy and changes in local tobacco policies. The mission of the Tobacco Free Partnership of Okeechobee County reflects the goals of the CDC Best Practices, especially regarding changes in local tobacco policies to create and promote tobacco-free social norms.
The Tobacco Free Partnership of Okeechobee County is facilitated by the QuitDoc Foundation. Learn more at www.quitdoc.com. To learn more about the partnership in Okeechobee or to get involved, visit: tfp-okeechobee.org or email Tobacco Program Manager, Courtney Moyett at cmoyett@quitdoc.com.