Lasting Harms of Cigarette Litter
Did you know that cigarette butts are the most littered item in the U.S.? According to research done by Keep America Beautiful, many of the same people who would never litter a plastic bottle or food wrapper simply don’t think twice about tossing cigarette butts on the ground. This leads to tobacco litter making up:
- 38% of roadway litter
- 32% of litter in storm drains
- 32% of litter in outdoor recreation areas
Cigarette butts are harmful to the environment. It is a common misconception that cigarette butts will biodegrade. Cigarette filters are actually made with plastic that will persist on land and in water for a long time. Beyond being an eyesore, cigarette butts also contain harmful chemicals such as lead and arsenic which can leach into soil and water. Wildlife also ingests cigarette butts, mistaking them for food which may result in illness or death. Furthermore, littered cigarette butts can also cause damage to property and landscaping by starting accidental fires.