Cigarette Bins and the Environment By James Mcneil At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

An emotive subject for many, the recent ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces caused a great deal of debate. Despite a lot of protest, the ban came into force in the UK in 2007. Whether individuals are for or against the ban, many now have to smoke outside of pubs and workplaces a lot more frequently. While this reduces smoke inside public buildings, it can also lead to an increase in littering just outside. In order to help the environment, smokers need to be aware that cigarette ends are as damaging as other waste, and many more outdoor cigarette bins need to be provided.

A large amount of people assume cigarette butts are easily biodegradable, but this is often not the case. As they are so small, many who would normally never drop litter will throw filters to the ground without a second thought. Many filters are actually made of cellulose acetate – although this looks like cotton, it is actually a type of plastic that can take years to biodegrade. It can prove difficult to collect these filters once dropped; they are often missed by standard litter cleaning techniques as they tend to fall in between cracks in pavements and roll to the edge of roads and pathways. They are often swept into gutters and other waterways by the rain or wind. This is a cause for concern as filters absorb dangerous chemicals found in tobacco smoke – and as they slowly decay they release these substances. It is believed that this could be harmful to aquatic life. No matter where they fall, cigarette butts leak chemicals that add to the pollution of the area. Some of the chemicals associated with tobacco smoke include arsenic, hydrogen cyanide and formaldehyde.

There are several other ways in which carelessly discarding used cigarette ends can cause harm. One of the more obvious risks is that of causing fire. If a cigarette has not been properly extinguished they can smoulder for quite some time, and in the right conditions can ignite nearby flammable materials. The damage caused can be extensive. After fires, natural environments can take years to recover – as can human communities. Appropriate and accessible cigarette bins can help reduce the risk of smoking related fires.

Animals, birds and fish sometimes eat cigarette ends by mistake; this can be dangerous, and even lethal, as they are not readily digestible and release chemicals directly into the animal. Although it is thought that aquatic animals most commonly mistake cigarette ends for food, pets and even young children will sometimes swallow them. It is vitally important that people dispose of cigarette ends in a responsible manner. This is often enforced by issuing on the spot fines to people caught dropping litter.

By far the easiest way to ensure that cigarette littering is kept to a minimum is to have more cigarette bins. It is important that they can be recognised from a distance and are positioned in areas where smoking is likely, for example, outside a pub. Many styles of cigarette bins are available, some are wall mounted, some not, vandal proof kinds can be obtained if necessary. Just placing cigarette bins in several convenient locations can reduce the environmental impact of littering.

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