Did you know cigarette butts are toxic microplastics that are not biodegradable? Butts that are tossed on the ground often end up in our lakes and rivers, affecting fish and wildlife, and even our drinking water!

Read more about tobacco waste and the impact on our environment here: https://www.publichealthlawcenter.org/sites/default/files/resources/Tobacco-Product-Waste-Toolkit.pdf

When e-cigarette and cigarette waste isn’t disposed of properly, it makes its way into the environment where it ends up polluting water, air, and land with toxic chemicals, heavy metals and residual nicotine. An estimated 766,571 metric tons of cigarette butts make their way into the environment every year. 

Read more about it here: https://truthinitiative.org/research-resources/harmful-effects-tobacco/tobacco-and-environment

Community Action Opportunities:

Storm Drain Art Project, Superior: The City of Superior, WI is surrounded by water. Seven main streams twist and turn through the city limits before entering Lake Superior. Storm drains or ditches direct stormwater (rain and snowmelt) from the streets to Superior’s streams, the St. Louis River Estuary, and eventually, Lake Superior. Storm drain art brings attention to the connection between streets and streams.  (link) https://www.ci.superior.wi.us/1175/Storm-Drain-Art-Project

Keep America Beautiful inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. (link) https://kab.org/programs/

TerraCycle offers easy-to-use receptacles and free recycling programs for collecting and recycling cigarette butts. (Link) https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/pages/litter-prevention-solutions