Cigarette Butts Pollution and Environmental Impact – A Review

Abstract

Worldwide, cigarette butts (CBs) are among the most common type of litter. The United States Department of Agriculture estimates that in 2004 over 5.5 trillion cigarettes were produced in the world. This is equivalent to an estimated of 1.2 million tonnes of cigarette butt waste per year. These figures are expected to increase by more than 50% by 2025 according to American Cancer Society, mainly due to an increase in global population. This paper presents a review of the environmental problems associated with CBs, which have been found to be the number one littered item in Australia over the past years. It is estimated 25 to 30 billion filter cigarettes are smoked each year; of these, an estimated 7 billion become litter. The CBs accumulate due to the poor biodegradability of the cellulose acetate filter, and the toxicity constituent trapped within threatens human life, marine ecosystems as well as the environment if not disposed in an appropriate manner. With the increasing concern arising from insufficient landfill sites and the growing environmental awareness about toxic incinerator emissions, there is a critical need for an alternative method for CB waste disposal which is environmentally acceptable.