Why it matters
In the past decade, cigarette smoking in America has decreased 28%, yet cigarette butts remain the most littered item--in the U.S. and across the globe.¹ Dropping cigarette butts to the ground, putting them in planters, and disposing of them in waterways is littering. The overall littering rate for cigarette butts is 65%, and tobacco products comprise 38% of all U.S. roadway litter. ²
Why do smokers litter? 63% of cigarette butt littering is attributable to individual motivations.² Mostly, it’s lack of awareness about the environmental impact and insufficient ash receptacles. New ordinances are also moving more smokers outdoors or to designated areas.
Here’s why cigarette butt litter matters: it's unsightly, costly to clean up, and harmful to waterways and wildlife. Get the facts:
- The Costs of Cigarette Litter
- Cigarette Litter and the Environment
- Cigarette Littering Misconceptions
¹"America Reaches Major Anti-Smoking Milestone," The American Legacy Foundation, November 19, 2008.
² Keep America Beautiful "Litter in America" 2009 research
 |
There is a real need for more education to change (smokers’ littering) behavior. |
 |
|
Karen Hauck, |
Download cigarette butt litter “key findings” from the Keep America Beautiful 2009 National Litter Study
During the Ocean Conservancy's 2008 Annual International Coastal Cleanup, U.S. communities reported that cigarette butts were the most littered item on roadways, beaches, and sidewalks-representing 28% of items collected.
As of January 2009, 31 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have some type of smoke-free workplace law
A 2006 New South Wales Australia litter survey of over 100 sites found that cigarette butts and related items comprised 59.5% of all litter items-up from 55.4% in 2004.