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Description
Every year, almost 5 trillion cigarette butts are thrown into nature. That''s 5000 billion. Cigarette butts are made of plastic. There are at least 250 toxic substances in a single cigarette butt. Cigarette butts are the most common waste on Slovenian coast, as well as globally. Filters quickly break down into microplastics, and toxic substances seep into marine organisms. Only 35% of people know that filters are made of plastic and not of natural materials. That is why they are being thrown into nature without a bad conscience. There is an excellent solution to this problem that is already being implemented in other industries, called extended producer responsibility. This means that manufacturers have to pay the cost of processing and removing waste that is generated after using a certain product (tires, medicines, batteries, etc.). The main purpose of our project is to submit a proposal for the obligation of extended liability for tobacco product manufacturers to the decision-makers at the responsible ministry as well as to the parliament. We will tackle the problem of cigarette butts on several levels. We will upgrade the proposal with a strategy for cigarette-free coasts aimed at coastal municipalities and we will call on individuals from our target groups to activate and sign the European Citizens'' Initiative to limit the harmful effects of cigarettes. Since environmental content is often presented in an unattractive and apocalyptic way, we will present the problem in a creative and even humorous manner. We will include young people in the core creative team, and they will in their own way talk about the problem. In short, we will inspire smokers and non-smokers with very practical and concrete campaigns, to get them active and demand systemic solutions from decision-makers and manufacturers . Our end goal is minimizing the pollution with cigarette butts on the beaches and in the sea.
Summary of project results
Cigarette butts are the most common litter in nature worldwide. In the sea, they decompose into microplastics, proven to harm aquatic organisms.
Within the project activities were designed and implemented of an activist exhibition on marine plastic with a focus on the issue of cigarette butts, produced awareness reaising videos, website, communication activities. A clean-up campaign was carried out to obtain samples of marine litter on the Slovenian coast and to monitor them. Also was lounched a call to sign the European Citizens'' Initiative FOR A TOBACCO-FREE ENVIRONMENT AND THE FIRST TOBACCO-FREE EUROPEAN GENERATION BY 2030 and a call for opportunities to get involved in local initiatives.
We directly raised awareness among over 2,500 individuals through exhibitions and events. Indirectly, we reached many more through widespread media coverage. We distributed 1,000 recycled pocket ashtrays and collected 790 pledges from smokers not to litter. We collaborated with six Slovenian municipalities on activities to prevent cigarette butt disposal on coastal and lakeside areas.