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Butts on beach

Hold On To Your Butt

298,250

Total butts collected and recycled so far!


ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF CIGARETTE BUTTS

 
  • An estimated 4.95 trillion cigarette butts are disposed of in our environment annually worldwide.
  • Cigarette butts leach toxins when wet, posing a threat to marine life.
  • Litter clean up costs the U.S. over $11B annually; cigarette butts represent an estimated 32% of that litter.
  • Cigarette butts are composed of cellulose acetate, a non-biodegradable plastic, which can take 10 to 25 years to decompose.
 

WHAT IS THE “HOLD ON TO YOUR BUTT” PROGRAM?

 
  • This is a program started by the Surfrider Foundation in the 1990’s.
  • Its goal is to eliminate cigarette butt litter, especially in the oceans and on the beaches. One way Surfrider works to achieve this goal is by providing cigarette butt receptacles, sponsored by individuals and local businesses.
  • You can help by discarding your used butts into one of these #hotyb cans.
  • Volunteers empty these receptacles (yes, yuck!) and recycle their contents via TerraCycle. Then they make things like flower pots out of all the plastic in the cigarette butts.

Cigarette butts are almost hidden trash that is often overlooked, but butts are plastic pollution.  And they are everywhere, if you look.  

Be aware. Instead of throwing your butt into the dunes or down on the sidewalk, Hold On To Your Butt until you can dispose of it properly.

 

One more thing you can do:

Sponsor a butt can!

Click here for details!


Thank you! Sponsors and Partners

Allison Buchtein

Christy and Bill Rankin

Allison Winnike

 

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Environmental Impacts of Cigarette Butts


Environmental Impacts:

  • #1 item found on beach cleanups – 4.5 trillion discarded each year
  • Cigarette butts leach toxins when wet, posing a hazard to marine life
  • Litter cleanup costs the US over 10 billion annually, and cigarettes represent 32% of that litter
  • Cigarette butts are composed of cellulose acetate, a non-biodegradable plastic


How to get involved?

  • Attend a chapter meeting and connect with our HOTYB lead to support their work
  • Help us table and educate our community about cigarette butt litter
  • Sponsor a HOTYB canister