The USDA estimates that 360,000,000,000 cigarettes were consumed in the United States alone in 2007. That is an absolutely staggering number to even think about. It actually comes out to just under 100 cigarettes per person per year. Now there is absolutely no way to know how many of these cigarettes being consumed are ending up as litter, but estimates have been around 30%. I hope that percentage is on the high end, but I’ve seen a whole lot of smokers flinging their butts to the floor.
Did you know?
Many people believe that the filter in the butt of a cigarette is made from cotton and are biodegradable. Those people are wrong the filter material is actually made using a form of plastic called cellulose acetate and takes up to 10 years to degrade.
Cool Solution:
The coolest and only real solution would be to get everyone who smokes to quit, but that’s not likely to happen anytime soon. Anyway, since that isn’t happening we need ways to dispose of cigarettes and maybe even clean up those that do become litter faster.
Cool Ideas:
Cigarette manufacturers could embed small rings or strips of metal in the butt of each cigarette This would greatly increase the productivity of those who care enough to keep the ground clean by allowing magnetic pick up sticks or plates to be used instead of tongs or hands. This would also decrease how unsanitary it is to be picking up other peoples cigarette butts.
Cigarette manufacturers could find a way to use recycled and biodegradable filter materials in their cigarettes. This may not help those cigarettes that end up landing on pavement, but could have a better outcome for those that land in the grass or dirt. Would also be a good bonus to the recycling business which isn’t doing so well in the US at the moment.
I think permanent filters or mouth pieces could be an option. Smokers could buy the mouth piece and the “refill” smoke packs separately. This would mean after they’re done smoking there would be essentially no waste to throw on the ground or into the landfill.
Crazy Factoid:
In 2007, The Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup picked up 1,971,551 cigarette/cigarette butts along coastal beaches world wide. Cigarettes, cigar tips and tobacco packaging accounted for 38% of all litter the volunteers picked up.
Those are just a few ideas that I think are worth looking at. I know they’re not the end all to the problem, but they could lessen the impact that the litter has on our planet. Do you have any ideas? We’d love to hear them.
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February 9th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Great post, Jason! It’s the number one litter in America! It’s sooo sad. I wish people realized that the butts don’t biodegrade and would think twice about kicking it to the curb. Good info.
Leslie- La Mama Naturales last blog post..Yummy Spoonfuls, Soooo Yummy!
February 22nd, 2009 at 2:52 pm
I think its closer to 1200 cigarettes per person per year (360 billion divided by 300 million). Thats even worse.
March 7th, 2009 at 3:28 am
This is a good view I totally agree. In my opinion true if everyone can do so well, doesn’t smoke is not good health but also can save money and also be the prevention of pollution of the environment.