Whats the problem with butt litter?
• Butt litter attracts butt litter. If it’s already there other people are less concerned about ‘doing the right thing’ with their butt and the problem can continue to grow, becoming an eyesore and creating an unkempt, dirty image for an area • Butt litter is never confined to one spot – it can be carried great distances by the wind where it can contribute to ecological degradation and be harmful to wildlife if ingested • The chemicals that leach from cigarette butts in our waterways are toxic to small crustaceans and bacteria at concentrations as low as one cigarette butt per 40 litres persists for at least seven days • Sediment contamination studies in Sydney indicate butts as a significant contributor to sediment pollution • Flicked butts can cause fires. As many as 1,200 grass and bushfires each year are attributed to cigarettes.
