You see them everywhere—on pavements, bus stops, parks, and beaches. Cigarette butts are one of the most common forms of litter in the world. But beyond being unsightly, they pose a serious environmental and health risk.
What’s in a Cigarette Butt?
Cigarette filters are often mistaken for cotton but are actually made from cellulose acetate, a semi-synthetic plastic. Each filter contains about 15,000 microplastic fibres, which break down slowly and persist in the environment for years—up to 14 years on the soil surface and 7.5 years in compost.
Over 4,000 harmful chemicals are used in tobacco farming and cigarette production. These include heavy metals, nicotine, tar, and other toxic substances. All of these leach into the environment through discarded filters and smoke residue.
A Plastic Problem with a Chemical Twist
Cigarette butts don’t just degrade slowly—they pollute soil, water, and marine ecosystems. One cigarette butt alone can contaminate up to 500 litres of water, releasing toxic substances like nicotine and heavy metals that harm aquatic life.
On average, 0.3 million tonnes of plastic fibres are released into the environment every year from cigarette butts. Once carried by wind or rain into drains and waterways, they become nearly impossible to recover.
Under the EU Waste Framework Directive, cigarette filters are classified as hazardous waste due to their nicotine content and ecotoxic potential.
Public Awareness is Still Low
Studies from the US and Germany show that 57–71% of smokers are unaware that cigarette filters are made from plastic and contain hazardous chemicals. This highlights a pressing need for education and awareness to drive behaviour change.
What Goumbook is Doing: Turning Waste into Value
At Goumbook, our Save the Butts – Waste to Value campaign tackles this issue head-on. Through a circular economy approach, we collect cigarette butts before they enter the environment and transform them into value-added materials.
👉 Permanent Collection Points help stop pollution at the source.
👉 Beach clean-ups target critical areas like shorelines and parks.
👉 Community engagement drives long-term behavioural change.
By connecting environmental action with tangible solutions, we aim to shift mindsets and foster shared responsibility across the UAE and beyond.
Join the Movement
Cigarette butt pollution is more than litter—it’s a toxic legacy we must end. Help us create impact through awareness, clean-ups, and innovation.
📩 Interested in becoming a collection point, hosting a clean-up, or partnering with us? Get in touch and join the movement.
Let’s turn harmful waste into a force for good.
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