On Coastal Cleanup Day 2014, volunteers picked up an astonishing 13,036 cigarette butts in San Mateo County! Cigarette butts are the most common form of litter picked up on this day both in San Mateo County and internationally. Littered cigarette butts are easily washed, blown, or flicked down storm drains that lead straight into local creeks, the Bay and the Ocean. These unsightly cigarette butts never disappear because they are made of plastic and do
not biodegrade. According to a recent study published in the journal Tobacco Control, cigarette butts are also toxic to marine and freshwater fish due to the chemicals they contain. Littered cigarette butts may look small but these toxic items are a big problem because they are everywhere.
Pacifica Beach Coalition is installing receptacles in hot spot areas in Pacifica where dedicated volunteers pick up a detestable number of cigarette butts from beaches weekly.
Visit smchealth.org/cigbutts to read more about the problem, and how you can be part of the solution.
