Cigarette butts are made of nonbiodegradable plastic, contain more than 400 toxic chemicals, and are the most-littered item in Maine and around the world. These factors make cigarette butts harmful to waterways and wildlife, costly to clean up, and an unsightly and unpleasant element of our city streets. Unfortunately, it has become commonplace to see many smokers habitually drop their cigarette butts onto the sidewalks or down a storm drain. Portland has taken proactive steps toward eliminating cigarette butt litter by installing Sidewalk Buttlers, which are innovative cigarette butt recycling containers. Follow their lead, and learn more about how you can prevent cigarette litter to make your community cleaner and healthier.
Other Resources for Cigarette Litter Prevention
- Keep American Beautiful Guide to Cigarette Litter Prevention: Cigarette litter facts and resources, including a Study on the effectiveness of implementing a Cigarette Litter Prevention Program
- TerraCycle: Cigarette butt recyclers; among other difficult to recycle materials
- Maine Public news story on the roll-out of Portland’s program
- Bangor Daily News story on Portland’s program
- Sidewalk Buttler website
- The Sidewalk Buttler Facebook page
- Video about London’s Cigarette Litter Prevention Program
- NRCM blog post about Portland’s Sidewalk Buttlers
