California and national litter studies and clean-ups have consistently found cigarette butts to be the single most commonly littered item on beaches, parks and roadways. Cigarettes and other litter mostly find their way into the water system, through storm drains or streams causing a water pollution problem.

TAKE ACTION!

Cigarette and other litter are regularly flushed into the storm drain system by rain and other water run-off into waterways via drain inlets and pipe networks. Litter in waterways degrades water quality, wildlife habitat, and the recreational enjoyment of rivers, bays, and beaches.

While cigarettes have long been recognized as a source of air pollution, only recently has attention begun to focus on discarded cigarettes as a source of water pollution. Cigarette butts and other litter are regularly flushed from urban and suburban streets, parking lots and other surface areas through the storm drain system by rain and other water run-off and ultimately into waterways via drain inlets and pipe networks. Cigarette litter in these waterways degrades water quality, wildlife habitat, and the recreational enjoyment of rivers, bays, and beaches.

The chemicals from discarded cigarette butts are capable of leaching into surrounding water where they can harm aquatic life. Nicotine has been shown to be lethal to species of fish and other sea life.

Please take a moment to send a message – or substitute your own words – to urge manufacturers to take responsibility for their products' litter and toxic waste.