BUTTsOUT Butt clean-up Sept 25, 2006 Nov. 16: Guess how many butts we picked up in one afternoon. See the answer   Can you guess what the number one form of litter is in America? If you guessed cigarette butts, you’re absolutely right! Tobacco-related products account for 34% of all litter. This year, one of BQO's projects will beCigarette Litter Prevention , which will consist of cigarette litter awareness, public cleanups, and even a program to give out free personal ashtrays. Research shows that individuals who would never consider littering an aluminum can, a piece of paper or other items may be littering cigarette butts. These items become litter when not disposed of properly and lack of awareness, lack of ash receptacles, and the increase of outdoor smoking is creating an emerging litter problem in communities around the country. The cigarette filter is cellulose acetate, a man-made fiber spun to look like cotton thread. These fibers break down very slowly, sometimes taking years. Cellulose acetate may degrade in time, but it is not biodegradable. As the wind and rain carry it along, it catches in flower gardens, grass and open spaces. That’s when children, our pets, and wildlife find it. The fibers in a cigarette filter and the remaining tobacco contain several residual alkaloids, including nicotine, posing a health problem for wildlife when ingested. Did you know that birds may use it for nesting and even think it’s food? So now you may be asking yourself, what can I do now? Well, to begin, use ashtrays, pocket ashtrays and ash receptacles when you are outside. Before you begin to smoke outside, look for the receptacle you’ll use when you finish smoking. Always carry a pocket ashtray when you are away from outdoor ash recepta-cles. If you smoke in your car, use your car’s ashtray for ash and cigarette butts, instead of loose change or keys. Do NOT throw butts out car windows. It also creates litter on the streets; recent wildfires in our country have been directly attributed to littered cigarette butts. Also, do NOT throw butts in storm drains. While you may think it keeps them from causing a fire, there is just as big of a problem if cigarette litter enters our waterways! The answer to this problem is simple, and with further awareness and just a little bit of initiative, we can all fix a big litter problem!
		2226 butts in one afternoon!!