Waste
Butts
Cigarette butts are the most common form of litter in the world, with approximately 4.5 trillion butts discarded each year.
Unextinguished cigarette butts discarded in waste can start fires in landfills and natural environments.
Discarded butts can end up in waterways, releasing toxins like nicotine and lead.
Animals may ingest cigarette butts, resulting in serious poisoning.
Cigarette butts contribute to visual pollution and solid waste, degrading public and natural spaces.
Cigarette butts are mostly made of plastic called cellulose acetate. Even though they are small and often overlooked, you will find them practically everywhere. While cigarette filters, or the plastic part of butts, can take up to 10 years to completely degrade, the chemicals they release can remain in the environment for many more years beyond the life of the cigarette butt itself.
To dispose of cigarette butts, it is important to throw them in ashtrays or specially designed bins.
Smokers can opt for biodegradable filters or switch to electronic cigarettes, although the latter also pose environmental challenges. Futhermore, recycling programs, such as those offered by TerraCycle, also allow cigarette butts to be transformed into new products.