Cigarettes a Major Cause of Litter

submitted by Private candidate : Joslyn Falzon  for 15-18
dissemination(s): newspaper, website
Proof of dissemination: Click to view
Dissemination description: It will be published in the coming month and proof will be sent later on by email to Mrs.Audrey Gauci.
filed under Photos


Cigarette butts, snack wrappers, take-out food and beverage containers are the most commonly littered items.

Cigarettes are one of the most insidious forms of litter all over the world that may be small, but they aren’t harmless. The fiberglass in the filters contains toxic chemicals that end up in storm drains, which eventually lead to our waterways. The second most littered item is fast food wrappers, followed by beer and soda cans.

Next time you’re tempted to flick that cigarette butt out the car window or toss your food wrapper on the ground, just think about how long that junk will stick around. Paper, which is completely recyclable, takes six months to decompose. Plastic bottles, which are also recyclable, take five to ten years. Plastic shopping bags: ten to thirty years. Be aware before committing a simply action, because it can cause more harm than benefits.