Butt Out
July 12, 2010 by Kathy McManus
What to do about the 176 million pounds of cigarette butts discarded on sidewalks, beaches, and other places every year in the U.S.? Put a penny bounty on each one, says a lawmaker.
New York State Assemblyman Michael G. DenDekker has introduced legislation that would “slap a one-cent deposit on every cigarette sold in the state—to be redeemed when the butts are turned in for ‘recycling,’” the New York Post reports. “Just as people pick up…bottles and cans, people will pick up filters (from the street),” Assemblyman Michael G. DenDekker said.
The 20 cents deposit money generated from each pack of cigarettes would be used to fund a statewide cigarette butt recycling program. DenDekker, a former smoker of 30 years, told The New York Times he “doesn’t care” that smokers would have to pay more. “I’m sorry,” he said, “but look at the amount of waste that cigarette butts cause in our cities.”
“Cigarette butts have immediate dangers and long side effects,” The Times reports. “Small children sometimes pick up them up and eat them; additionally toxins remaining in the butts can leach into the environment and poison fish.” So far, creative uses for recycled butts include a solution that protects steel pipes from corrosion to another from a Brazilian fashion designer who dyes the butts and spins them with sheep wool into clothing. According to the Times, there is no known cigarette recycling program anywhere in the U.S.
“This is something that is going to be a long process,” DenDekker says. “But imagine if we had started cleaning them up 20 years ago.”
Is mandated deposit and recycling the best way to deal with cigarette butts?
Find More ///
- in Government, Environment
- in Blog
- about smoking, law, New York, recycling
Related ///
Banning Bottled Water?
A Massachusetts woman’s proposal to ban bottled water in her community raises questions about what we’re willing to pay for, and why.
Europe Deems 2014 the Year Against Food Waste
Should we take waste stats more seriously?
RP Roundtable: College Sports
Is there a lack of responsibility in collegiate athletics? Our panel weighs in.
A Champion for Homeless Pets
The founder of The Best Friends Animal Society explains the origins of the “no kill movement” and his continued efforts to help homeless animals.
Knowing When to Unplug
An RP Roundtable debate about the pros and cons of technology in our lives.
Is Yoga Bad for You?
A new debate has taken hold over yoga’s health benefits, or lack thereof.
12 Comments
What do you think? Leave a comment
July 12, 2010 by Rae
I am a smoker and I think this is a great idea. It looks terrible to have cigarette butts everywhere. The health factors involved make it a no-brainer.
Reply
August 5, 2011 by sam
Oh wow,they better do it with all booze cans and Bottles,they will have BILLIONS
Reply
July 13, 2010 by Laura
I think its a great idea! great cause for the community to pitch in and still get something out of it.
Reply
July 15, 2010 by Splash
I love this idea, it will help the the people who need a extra penny in their pocket and the earth considering how much cigarette buds there are now. I actually cant believe how excited i am about this idea.
Reply
July 16, 2010 by Jacob
I really like the idea of this. The whole community pitching in, or rather, lining their pockets a little bit in return for a cleaner community, is a great idea. I may only be 18 years of age, but I can definitely see a good idea. For some people, the extra $0.01 won't make a big difference, but for a few, it might be the deciding factor between quitting and not quitting. Steps in the right direction :]
Reply
July 16, 2010 by Chris
For 1 cent per butt, I could probably make a few bucks a day just driving my motorcycle to work. I constantly get hit in the face by drivers that throw the butts out the window.
Not having ash trays in cars was a great idea, but at what cost to the environment (and my face).
Reply
July 24, 2010 by jerry gober
Completely do away with cigarett filters. I have to pick them up all the time in the curb area in front of my house, plus having to look at them at intersections, especially ones with long lights.
The Gov. just did away with the labelling of light. Do the same with filters. At least this would not leave a filter for to cause problems for people and wildlife.
Reply
July 26, 2010 by Jon
This is basically legislation to get homeless people to clean up the streets of New York on the cheap. I find it degrading from a human rights perspective.
Reply
July 28, 2010 by Robert Picard
Excellent idea! I will forward to the City of Philadelphia where litter should be viewed as a State of Emergency, especially in South Philadelphia.
Reply
August 2, 2010 by jessica
Wow, finally someone out there came up with an actual assignment that may help our planet for the better! I smoke and can not stand to lay on the beach with all of those butts, or even take a walk to look at nature, but whats that any good if butts are everywhere.
Reply
August 10, 2010 by Christopher
I find this idea to be one of the best i already pay extra for my smokes but a return on my butts!! sounds like a plan you can turn a flowerpot full of them into cash and yes there will be people who make machines to pick them up and as far as cheep clean up from the homless it gives them something to do (for those who make being homless a lifestyle) this is a great idea on should be pushed ..if only we had a use for recycled butts...
Reply
February 17, 2011 by PM
What the heck are you talking about - we already pay for disposal of cig butts. Its like any other trash removal - throw it in trash - the trash man takes it away and you pay the trash bill that comes to your home or business each month. If you are having a paticular area where butts are being thrown on ground put out a trash can or cig butt can.
Reply
Tell us what you think.
Let the world know what you think, but please do so responsibly. Comments are moderated and we will not post personal attacks, obscene language or inappropriate material, comments with links, or comments from people under the age of 18. If you have a question, check out our Comment Submission Guidelines.