That's crazy! I didn't even realize they had plastic in them. Makes you wonder how many inconspicuous everyday items have the potential to become plastic waste.
this post was submitted on 26 Dec 2024
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Car tires are supposed to be bad. I remember reading each loses ~1kg in pulverised plastic dust over the lifetime?
Luckily, at least some of that is filtered from the air by people's lungs.
Oh, do you know what else? Paint. Apparently, a lot of studies didn't account for microplastics that came from several types of paint that end up in the environment. Scary stuff.
Like that paint that they use on highways that needs to be reapplied every so often because it disappears
Well, it doesn't just disappear. Microplastics. Highways are doubly bad for plastic waste.
Oh lord... That's true. I never thought of that. And then we have studies like these. Do you have testicles? Well... You have microplastics in them.
So many people don't realise the reality of cigarette waste.
"It's just one small butt" adds up to:
- 4.5 TRILLION butts littered globally each year - - Enough to circle the Earth 300 times if placed end to end
"It's just paper and cotton" - NOPE:
- The filter is plastic (cellulose acetate)
- Contains over 15,000 plastic fibres
- Takes up to 14 years to break down
- Even then, it just becomes microplastics
"Rain will wash it away" - Yeah, right into:
- Storm drains
- Rivers
- Oceans
- Fish (they mistake them for food)
"At least it's not toxic" - Actually:
- One butt can contaminate up to 40 liters of water
- Contains arsenic, lead, nicotine, and other toxins
- Kills fish, birds, and other wildlife
I knew about the first part and the third and fourth, but I had no idea that it also contributed so much to plastic pollution.
Yeah it's crazy. It's definitely not something most people associate with plastic.
I live in the US and it's becoming more and more unusual in many places to see people smoking. As a result, I see fewer discarded cigarette butts than ever. Still not zero, but getting there.
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I thought tires were responsible for like 25% of micro plastics.
Never mind. I just read what I wrote, and realized they're two different things.
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Aren’t microplastics from car tires more common?
Presumably plastic pollution is a superset of microplastic pollution
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Just ban the filter. Let them smoke raw and unfiltered.
We should go back to using natural materials for filters, like asbestos. /s
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Dislike smoking but realize that for addicts often public infrastructure doesn't give you a lot of options for getting rid of butts. Seems like biodegradable butts should be mandatory. On the other hand I will lean into my horn if I see someone throwing butts out of their car. That is inexcusable - get an ashtray for your vehicle.
When I smoked I always put my butts in my pocket.
It's not hard to pick up after yourself. Put the cig out, and instead of dropping it on the ground put it in your pocket. If thats too stinky carry a sandwich bag or dog poop bag for them.
Now that that's out of the way, it's interesting that birds have been using cigarette butts to line their nests. Turns out nicotine is a great miticide. Hopefully it's not hurting them in the long run, which is why we should pick up our fucking garbage.
flicking your cigarette into the void was completely normal every place that i lived in the US. it isn't thought about or frowned upon. it's simply part of the ritual of having a cigarette.
For many smokers, the world is their ashtray.
That is a State of mind perhaps, but frankly illegal in many places
public infrastructure doesn't give you a lot of options for getting rid of butts
It's literally the same infrastructure as for every other kind of litter: a bin. Just stamp it out and throw it away. If there isn't a bin take it with you and throw it out later. Before I quit smoking I had a small plastic vial with a screw lid that I collected the butts in for later disposal. A small jar, dedicated pocket ash tray or in a pinch even a plastic bag or simply a pocket would work too. It's really not that hard.
I realise you're probably not one of the people who litter their cigarette butts, but you still shouldn't be making excuses for people who do. Throwing cigarettes on the ground is no better than any other kind of littering. And while I'm at it: the same goes for bottle caps.
Is that safe? Seems like a risk of fire to throw a recently lit butt into a general bin.
That's why you stamp it out first.
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