In the past decade, cigarette smoking in America has decreased 28%, yet cigarette butts remain the most littered item-in the U.S. and across the globe.
Dropping cigarette butts to the ground, putting them in planters, and disposing of them in waterways is littering. The overall littering rate for cigarette butts is 65%, and tobacco products comprise 38% of all U.S. roadway litter.
Why Do Smokers Litter
63% of cigarette butt littering is attributable to individual motivations. Mostly, it's lack of awareness about the environmental impact and insufficient ash receptacles. New ordinances are also moving more smokers outdoors or to designated areas. Here's why cigarette butt litter matters: it's unsightly, costly to clean up, and harmful to waterways and wildlife.