Why Cigarette Butts?
Bad news. Tobacco litter is the major source of microplastics in our food and water. (Yes, cigarette butts are made of plastic)!
& Canada produces 27 billion cigarettes per year, but has no legislated plan to manage their environmental toll.
& Canada produces 27 billion cigarettes per year, but has no legislated plan to manage their environmental toll.
Good news! Butts already produced can be recycled.
Butts can be made of compostable materials.
The Environmental Handling Fee & Deposit/Refund models used for other plastics work great to get butts recycled and out of our environment (we tested)!
Butts can be made of compostable materials.
The Environmental Handling Fee & Deposit/Refund models used for other plastics work great to get butts recycled and out of our environment (we tested)!
Abundant information supports the damage caused by unrestricted tobacco pollution. Less dangerous products already have refund systems to reduce their litter. Why the exception for tobacco?
Butts include carcinogens and microplastics, which have entered our ecosystems, food and water. Instead of ignoring it, we need our federal government to include butts (& similar single-use plastics in tobacco products) in the ban on dangerous plastics proposed for tabling in 2021. Let's stop this problem at the source!
We can apply a refundable deposit and Environmental Handling Fee. Already in use for beverage containers and electronics, this system effectively promotes collecting litter. We even tested it: In 2019, LoveWhereYouLiveBC piloted a nickel refund on butts, collecting a Canadian clean-up record of 640,000 (...in four hours)! Clearly this approach works: We don't see piles of refundable cans littering the landscape, like cigarette butts.
Butts include carcinogens and microplastics, which have entered our ecosystems, food and water. Instead of ignoring it, we need our federal government to include butts (& similar single-use plastics in tobacco products) in the ban on dangerous plastics proposed for tabling in 2021. Let's stop this problem at the source!
We can apply a refundable deposit and Environmental Handling Fee. Already in use for beverage containers and electronics, this system effectively promotes collecting litter. We even tested it: In 2019, LoveWhereYouLiveBC piloted a nickel refund on butts, collecting a Canadian clean-up record of 640,000 (...in four hours)! Clearly this approach works: We don't see piles of refundable cans littering the landscape, like cigarette butts.
Why now?
There has never been a better time for making a change.
The permanent solution to tobacco pollution is here.
This cross-party issue unites Canadians.
While petitions are paused due to an upcoming federal election, this is best time to tell your MP you care. Speaking now means federal parties who require our votes know stewardship of the environment is an essential part of their platform.
You hold the key to sustainable change. Your voice can eliminate tobacco pollution at the source, combat litter already contaminating our food and ecosystems, and foster a cleaner environment free of toxic waste.
The permanent solution to tobacco pollution is here.
This cross-party issue unites Canadians.
While petitions are paused due to an upcoming federal election, this is best time to tell your MP you care. Speaking now means federal parties who require our votes know stewardship of the environment is an essential part of their platform.
You hold the key to sustainable change. Your voice can eliminate tobacco pollution at the source, combat litter already contaminating our food and ecosystems, and foster a cleaner environment free of toxic waste.
