By: Felicia Sobonya, Nevada County Tobacco Prevention Program
Penn Valley collection
December 12, 2011 - In an effort to raise awareness of the impact of tobacco litter on the environment, Youth Opposing the Use of Tobacco for Health (Y.O.U.T.H.) and the Tobacco Prevention Adult Coalition members have conducted numerous tobacco litter pickups in 2011.
Cigarette butts release the same toxic chemicals found in cigarettes, such as arsenic and nicotine, into the environment. These deadly toxins leach into our water systems while the non-biodegradable cigarette filters, or more commonly known as "butts," make their way into our creeks, stream, rivers and eventually the ocean. Aquatic life suffers; cigarette butts have been found in the stomachs of fish, birds, water turtles and often time domestic animals such as chickens and ducks.
According to the US Department of Agriculture and the American Cancer Society, more than 360 billion cigarettes are consumed in the United Stated annually, contributing to 135 million pounds of discarded butts. "Cigarette butts make up 34 % of the total litter collected in California and are a significant contributor to storm drain trash."(Ocean Conservatory: International Coastal Clean Up). "Tobacco litter is the number one littered item on the planet and has been linked to wildfires, which result in the destruction of wildlife, vegetation and structures."(Cigarette butts and the case for an environmental policy on hazardous cigarette waste, 2009).
In July, in only 1.5 hrs, a total of 2,737 cigarette butts, and 9 cigarette packs were collected in the downtown area of Truckee.
Grass Valley collection
Similarly, in downtown Grass Valley, on July 27th, 2,243 butts and 6 cigarette packs were collected in 1.5 hrs.
In September the Y.O.U.T.H coalition recruited 27 youth to participate in the South Yuba River Citizens League annual River Clean Up where a total of 8,822 cigarette butts and 214 empty cigarette packages were collected from various collection sites along the Yuba River.
On Nov. 30th, 17 Adult and Y.O.U.T.H. Coalition members conducted another Butt Pick up in the Penn Valley Shopping Center in Penn Valley where 1,116 cigarette butts, 6 cigarette packages and 1 cigar were collected in 45 minutes.
This is a total of 14,918 cigarette butts and 241 cigarette packages that were collected in a coordinated effort by the Nevada County Tobacco Prevention Y.O.U.T.H. and Adult Coalition and the South Yuba River Citizens League in 2011.
The Nevada County Tobacco Prevention Program and its coalition members want everyone to know that reducing tobacco use not only protects human health, but also that of animals and our environment.
By submitting a comment you consent to our rules. You must use your real first and last name, not a nickname or alias. A comment here is just like a letter to the editor or a post on Facebook. Thank you.
