Quick Facts about Cigarette Butt Litter
370 billion cigarettes consumed/yr. in US.
98% filtered
14.1 million lbs of butts are deposited into US environment yearly
38% of all debris collected from beaches, rivers and streams on annual clean up days
Source: Register, KM Underwater Naturalist, Bull-Amer Littoral Society 2000
Potential problems and problems
Cellulose filters may persist for years ( and not biodegrade)
Cigarette butts and other litter release chemicals that eventually may reach streams, rivers, oceans
Risks to animals and children of ingestion
Clean up costs to communities
Risk of fires
The Environmental Impact of Cigarette Butt Litter, A Warner Series Lecture in Observance of Earth Day, April 19, 2011
http://http.earthcache.net/htc-01.media.qualitytech.com/COMP008760MOD1/041911_Legacy/index.htm
How Cigarette Butt Pick Ups Can Help
Help advocate for policy change
Strengthen policy compliance
Say thanks and give feedback that policy is helping and working
Cleans up and beautifies
Great opportunity for media coverage on existing policies, groups, programs etc. and for prevention celebrations (WNTD, TRU Week, Earth Day)
Where?Where?
ActivityActivity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_-1WduLvdU UT Campus
http://apps.facebook.com/good-film/entries/74?fb=1# Danielle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC_9QgRfY3ABobby