Bin it or Swim in It

Four Easy Tips To Keep Cigarette Butts Out of Waterways

The sad truth is that these little butts cause big problems – like contaminating our waterways with toxic chemicals. Cigarette butts littered on streets, sidewalks, and other areas get washed down storm drains and ultimately end up in our waterways. Since they are not biodegradable and are filled with chemicals, the butts hang around and cause pollution for many years.

No one likes dirty beaches or contaminated waters, so what can you do to help? Luckily, there are a few easy things you can do to keep our waterways clean and wildlife safe:

• Always place cigarette butts in an ashtray or receptacle
• Carry a pocket ashtray for times where an ashtray is not available
• Ask friends and family to pick up their cigarette butts
• Join a beach cleanup in your area! Check out your local chapter of SurfRider or Orange County Coastkeeper to see when cleanups are happening near you