Smoking Related Issues

Smoking Related Litter

Three-quarters of English streets are strewn with smoking related litter which covers items such as cigarette ends, matchsticks and discarded cigarette packets, according to a recent survey by ENCAMS and the problem is set to get worse. The Local Environment Quality Survey of England (LEQSE) surveyed 12,000 sites and found over 79% of them were scattered with cigarette butts and packets. On 1st July the Government ban on smoking in public places, will come into force which could lead to an increase in smoking related litter on our streets.

Research shows that an environmentally aware smoker (who normally goes to great lengths to dispose of other litter correctly) will, without thinking, throw their cigarette butt onto the street. This is because most smokers make no connection between dropping a cigarette butt and littering. But it is littering and the government has made this clear in The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.

Smoking Related Litter facts

• Cigarette butts are legally classed as Litter.
• Cigarette butt litter is so widespread that it is regarded as the world’s number one environmental litter problem.
• A dropped cigarette butt carries a littering fine of at least £50 and can be as much as £2,500.
• The littering offence applies to public open land, such as: roads, pavements, parks and beaches.
• Cigarette filters are composed of cellulose acetate, a plastic that can take anywhere between 18 months and 500 years to break down.
• 61% of Irish people believe that a ban on smoking in pubs has lead to a rise in cigarette rubbish (source: Stubbi).
• Two of Britain’s worst disasters were caused by lighted cigarette ends dropped by smokers: Bradford City Football fire in which 40 people died in 1985; King’s Cross Underground station fire in 1987 when 31 people died.
• 122 tons of cigarette butts and cigarette related litter is dropped every day in the UK.
• Cigarette filters leak toxins that contaminate water and harm marine life and the environment.
• Every day UK smokers throw away about 200 million butts.
• Careless smoking is estimated to be the number one cause of fire related death and injury in the UK.

What can you do to reduce Smoking related litter

• Provide facilities for the safe disposal of cigarettes outside of your premises.
• Promote a strong anti-littering message.