No More Butts on the Beach
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Cigarette filter butts are a nuisance in beaches in Britain. Surfers Against Sewage, Marine Conservation Society and British Naturists are raising awareness of dangers in butt littering in beaches.
The folks in the picture work for the "Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), Marine Conservation Society and British Naturists. There are numerous ways of sending the message but most of the time a shock and awe ad campaign is used to send the message. This is one of them. But the message is valid; these cigarette butts are a menace in beaches.
Cigarette filters or butts are often seen lying everywhere and most of them are not biodegradable and they remain in environment for more than 15 years. The Cigarette filters protect the smokers by minimizing the nicotine content but trap them in the filters which is thrown away. The filters are composed of 12,000 plastic like cellulose acetate fibers and they decay to a form of plastic powder and releasing the trapped nicotine back to the environment usually in the drains, lakes, rivers and beaches.
Here are some facts about the cigarette butt littering:
- Cigarette butts are one of the most commonly found litter items on beaches around the UK.
- They are not biodegradable, but made from 12,000 plastic fibers.
- 1 cigarette butt can take up to 15 years to break down.
- Each cigarette butt can pollute 3 liters of seawater.
- Cigarette butts are often mistaken for food by marine wildlife.
If one wants to smoke it is their right but at least they can throw away the filter in proper trash containers and not throw everywhere especially in the sands of beaches where children and pets play in the beaches.
Ref: Treehugger.com.
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Comments
Thanks Mandm, I think not only cigaratte butts, we throw a lot of waste in beaches, one has to be socially responsible. I think if they impose fines, it will be curb this littering.
When I'm walking from my bus stop to work, I always pick up trash along the way and put it in wastebaskets that line the streets. I don't understand how people can litter. The next time I'm on the beach, I'll try to clean up a bit there as well.
Hi Stacie, that's nice, but they should do it, if they put some fines they won't do it. It is becoming worse here in NC, they keep littering, I see all sorts of things on the ground.
Absolutely brilliant ! Smoking is such a 'filthy' habit in more than one way! I love how the messages is driven home:D
Yes, plus it affects the beauty of the beaches, who wants to see a cigaratte butt or any trash when you are relaxing in the sands, it is a turn off.
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mandm on bulgaria says:
12 months ago
I am a smoker but do use a portable ashtray i didn't realise cigarette buts actually could cause harm to marine life etc , so I am really glad some people are making us aware , there are portable ashtray's though which most smoker's now use because we do get fined for throwing butts on the floor, so all i can say is come on smoker's be a bit more considerate.