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