Cigarette butts

Cigarettes are a key contributor to the plastic pollution problem. Single-use plastic cigarette filters are consistently in the top 5 items found on UK beaches during our Great British Beach Clean.

We want single-use plastic cigarette filters and single-use vapes banned plus a review of other single-use filters as soon as possible. These filters can take around 14 years to degrade while releasing a cocktail of chemicals, as well as microplastics, into the environment.

We’re working with ASH Scotland, Keep Scotland Beautiful and ASH Wales to highlight both the negative health implications of single-use plastic filters as well as the environmental impact. We’re asking the governments of Wales and Scotland to support our call for a ban.

cigarette butt pick up at Great British Beach Clean at Hove Beach Brighton Billy Barraclough

Credit: Billy Barraclough

Further details on the statements can be found here.

Read our joint policy with ASH Scotland and KSB on cigarette filters

Read our joint statement with ASH Wales on cigarette filters

See more consultation responses and policy papers

Cigarette butts

Cigarettes are a key contributor to the plastic pollution problem. Single-use plastic cigarette filters are consistently in the top 5 items found on UK beaches during our Great British Beach Clean.

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