Cigarette butts are the most littered item in America….
…and they don’t just disappear.
The Cigarette Litter Prevention Program is a Keep America Beautiful initiative to reduce cigarette litter. The program aims to provide information and education as well as cigarette receptales and portable ashtrays to reduce cigarette litter in communities all across the country. The cigarette waste collected from the cigarette receptacles is recycled through TerraCycle.
Why is there so much cigarette litter?
One reason cigarette butts are littered is the misconception that they are not considered litter. However, cigarettes do not biodegrade. Cigarette filters contain cellulose acetate, a plastic substance that breaks down very slowly. Not only are piles of cigarette butts in our public areas, parks, and roadsides unsightly, but they can end up in our waterways, affect wildlife, and attract even more litter to the area.
Another reason for cigarette litter is the lack of cigarette receptacles. Most cigarette litter happens in transition zones. Transition zones are areas a smoker might be forced to put out their cigarettes, such as restaurants, businesses, or bus stops. By installing ash receptacles at transition points, cigarette litter can be drastically reduced.
Cigarette receptacles
With funds from the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program Grant, Keep Blount Beautiful has worked with the City of Maryville, Blount County, Parks and Recreation, and local businesses to place cigarette receptacles at transition points entering downtown restaurants and bars, county government buildings, green spaces, and local businesses. The cigarette waste from the bins is sent to TerraCycle for recycling. The tobacco and paper are composted, and filters are turned into plastic pellets that can be used in new plastic products.
Other acceptable receptacles are airtight plastic containers. Label and place any clean and dry receptacles in the areas where you see cigarette litter. When the containers are full, bring them to our office for recycling or sign up for TerraCycle’s free program to send them in.
portable ashtrays
The use of a portable ashtray will decrease the number of cigarettes littered by motorists and pedestrians. Keep Blount Beautiful has both pocket and car ashtrays available for free. Contact the office to get a free ashtray.
request pickup/Drop OFf (CLPP Participants only)
CLPP participants can fill out the form below when their cigarette receptacle is full. Per grant requirements, cigarette butts should be picked up by or dropped off at Keep Blount Beautiful for recycling through Terracycle.
