‘Cigarette butts account for 766 million kilos of trash yearly’Globally, more than six trillion cigarettes are produced annually, each containing filters or butts that are mainly composed of microplastics known as cellulose acetate fibers, UNEP said. MANILA, Philippines — Cigarette butts account for more than 766 million kilograms of toxic trash each year and are the most common plastic litter on beaches, according to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). When ingested, the hazardous chemicals in cigarette’s microplastics cause long-term mortality in marine life, including birds, fish, mammals, plants and reptiles. On Wednesday, a new United Nations partnership was announced to raise awareness about the environmental and health impacts of microplastics in cigarette butts, the most discarded waste item worldwide. It includes a political advocacy highlighting a recent European Union directive that requires tobacco products with plastic filters be labeled clearly.

Source: Philippine Star February 06, 2022 20:48 UTC