Bin that BUTT

THE PROBLEM

Cigarette Butts are the single most reported litter item across Australia, representing 20% of all recorded items.
That's one in five items.

It is estimated by the NSW EPA that  around 7 billion butts are littered in Australia every year.

Made of cellulose acetate - a cigarette butt is not cotton wool - it is plastic.

And that means it's not going to quickly break down. They will take up to 12 months in fresh and 5 years in saltwater.

Every butt is packed with fibrous materials designed to trap tar and other toxic chemicals before they reach the smoker's lungs. The filters are cellulose acetate coated with paper.

The butt contains the remnants of tobacco, paper and the filter. Residue in  butts contains toxic, soluble chemicals.

Within one hour of being dropped onto soil or in water a butt will start to leach nicotine and pyrene. These chemicals are toxic for small crustaceans and bacteria - all it takes to trigger a week of carnage for these minute creatures is one butt in 40L of water.
CHANGE STARTS WITH YOU

All it takes to stop this problem is one simple action - Bin Your Butt
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