http://www.beachapedia.org/Cigarette_Butt_Litter
Size of Problem
Somewhere around 4.5 trillion butts are littered worldwide each year, making them the most littered item in the world.
Environmental
It is estimated that around one in ten cigarette butts ends up in our rivers, bays and waterways. Being little and lightweight, they are easily carried into our waterways.
Cigarette filters especially are not biodegradable, they are made from a type of plastic called cellulose acetate, which degrades very slowly – anywhere between 2 months and 15 years, depending on exposure to air and water. Cigarette filters have been found in the stomachs of fish, birds, whales and other animals who mistake them for food, instead swallowing harmful plastic and toxic chemicals.
Discarded cigarettes and butts are a common cause of fires, both inside the home and in the bush.
Social
Economical
It is becoming increasingly expensive to install and service bins and butt bins; clean streets, parks beaches and drains; conduct litter prevention campaigns; issue and enforce litter fines and maintain other compliance activities.
While local governments bear the main costs, significant costs are also incurred by many other stakeholders, including business owners, property managers, land and facility managers and public transport operators
Data from:
www.buttfree.org.au/about-butt-littering/impacts.html
www.buttfree.org.au/images/stories/2.1_Impacts/fact-sheet-impacts-of-butt-littering.pdf