Tobacco litter is toxic to our environment, learn how to reduce the impact
Berkeley, California (Monday, May 17, 2021) - Help keep Berkeley free of toxic tobacco waste. Everyone can play a role - from disposing of your waste properly and using free resources to help you quit if you still smoke, to volunteering at local cleanups if you don't.
This environmental toll of tobacco waste often goes unrecognized. The most common toxic waste item found in clean-ups - cigarette filters - are primarily composed of non-biodegradable plastic. Filters contain toxic chemicals that pollute the environment and can be poisonous when ingested by children and wildlife, yet they are the number one item found on our beaches and roadways.
A tobacco litter audit conducted by the City's Tobacco Prevention Program highlights that smoking not only presents risks to your health but is also toxic and damaging to our environment. The audit collected over 5,000 cigarette butts, empty cigarette packs, JUUL pods, and other tobacco litter at sites across Berkeley. An average of 216 pieces of litter were collected per site, although several sites contained too much tobacco litter to collect within the audit window.
Help reduce tobacco waste in Berkeley
We can all take simple actions to reduce the considerable ecological impacts of tobacco litter. Help keep Berkeley clean:
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Join local efforts to clean up tobacco litter and other plastics. Volunteer with the Ecology Center or Save the Bay, an organization working to protect, restore and celebrate San Francisco Bay since 1961.
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Dispose of tobacco products properly. Our audit found that there were cigarette receptacles and trash cans available at 8 out of 10 sites, yet they still had tobacco litter. If you use tobacco products, don't throw butts on the street. Always dispose of waste properly and don't use tobacco products in areas where second hand smoke is prohibited.
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If you smoke, consider quitting. Avoid creating toxic tobacco waste in the first place. The City of Berkeley Tobacco Prevention Program hosts free Freedom From Smoking®* Quit Smoking Classes on a regular basis for anyone 18 years or older who is ready to quit nicotine products. For information, email quitnow@ctityofberkeley.info or call (510) 981-5330.
Litter audits help track and improve efforts to create a healthy environment for all
To understand the local impact of tobacco litter, the Tobacco Prevention Program conducted a two year tobacco litter audit. Seventy-five visits were conducted across Berkeley at a variety of sites including commercial corridors, transportation stops, school sites, apartment buildings, parks, senior centers, child care centers, and health care locations.
The City of Berkeley audit findings are used to educate the public and policymakers on the environmental impact of tobacco waste and informs our community outreach efforts.
Tobacco litter harms the health of our community for all. Do your part to keep Berkeley free of tobacco waste.
