cigarette butt disposal debate

The fire in a Jumeirah Lake Towers apartment has once again raised the question of people throwing cigarette butts from their apartment balconies.

Emirates 24|7 spoke to several residents who have called upon officials to impose stricter penalties for disposing cigarette stubs carelessly, apart from clearing the balconies of inflammable material.

“Every weekend I find at least three to four cigarette butts thrown into my balcony,” said Aamir, a Tecom resident.

Click to see gallery of JLT's Tamweel Tower on fire

More than 300 people were evacuated and balconies of ten floors charred following a fire in the 13-floo Saif Belhasa building in Tecom last month. The fire was allegedly caused after a cigarette butt was thrown from a balcony.

Salem Al Mismar, Assistant General Manager for Environment and Safety, Dubai Municipality, says there is already a Dh500 fine for throwing or stubbing out a cigarette on the street anywhere in Dubai.

“This law is connected with keeping the city clean. In line with the Dubai development plan.”

“However, a new law may be needed to ban throwing of cigarretes from balcones in buildings to keep public health and safety well.

“We hope this new law will come soon to save money and lives,