Rome mayor urges smokers to avail of the new service but suggests it would be even better if they gave up smoking altogether.
Rome has launched a project to retrofit 18,000 bins with ashtrays in a bid to reduce the number of cigarette butts dumped by smokers on streets around the capital.
When they were introduced around Rome last year, residents were quick to note that the new recycled plastic bins were missing ashtrays which were found in the old cast-iron cestoni, prompting smokers to either throw their butts on the pavement or stub out their cigarettes on top of the bins.
Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri announced the new initiative on Tuesday, describing it as a “novelty” for the bins whose Cestò name is a play on the Italian word “cesto” for bin and “Ce sto!”, meaning “I’m in” in Roman dialect.
Una novità per #CeStò!
Stiamo procedendo con l’installazione dei nuovi posacenere in tutti e 18 mila CeStò. Sono perfettamente integrati e presto saranno installati in tutta #Roma.
Un ulteriore passo avanti per garantire il decoro urbano, soprattutto nei punti più frequentati da… pic.twitter.com/hnSlYSPgf2— Roberto Gualtieri (@gualtierieurope) September 23, 2025
“We are proceeding with the installation of the new ashtrays in all 18,000 CeStò” – Gualtieri said in a video post on X – “They are perfectly integrated and will soon be installed throughout Rome.”
Gualtieri described the move as a further step forward to ensure urban decorum, especially in areas most frequented by citizens and tourists, stating that the goal is to reduce the abandonment cigarette butts on streets and sidewalks, noting that it takes the filters up to 10 years to disintegrate.
“We are proceeding with 200 installations per day, so in five-six months we will have installed ashtrays in all 18,000 Cestò bins”, Gualtieri said.
The mayor urging smokers to avail of the new service, for the benefit of Rome and the environment, adding: “If you then quit smoking it’s even better”.
Photo Wanted in Rome
