Cigarette butts are the world’s most common litter, with around 4.5 trillion cigarette butts thrown out each year, but the filters are made from cellulose acetate (a plastic that takes over 10 years to break down and meanwhile leaks toxins into the environment, when butts fall down storm drains). Butts in oceans make up more sea litter than plastic bags and straws, and are found in stomachs of marine creatures (birds feed them to chicks, thinking they are food).
Ballot Bin is a custom ashtray that’s proven to reduce cigarette butt litter by up to 73%. Each bin displays a question and two answers, and smokers vote by putting their butts in the slots underneath their preferred answer. It sounds silly, but it works apparently as it’s more likely for people to use the bins. If it works, why not? It’s working when public litter campaigns have not. Once unlocked, the bins can be removed to empty and clean, and the sign/question can be updated. It’s designed to resist rust and the bonded glass makes it difficult to break. The packaging is made from recycled card.
taketray is one of those little inventions that could save the planet. Cigarette litter is immense worldwide, and not only does it cause unsightly litter, but dropping butts on dry countryside is like a match to paper, and causes forest fires which harm wildlife.
The ashtray has a safety lock to prevent unintentional opening (say by children) and an erasure aid for easy safe extinguishing of the cigarette. It’s the right size for simple one-hand operation and easy to clean. It also lies comfortably in the hand, an ideal size for hand or trouser pockets. It can be used as a portable table ashtray, and is made from recycled material.
For councils and offices, No Butts offers smoking shelters that are specially designed for butts not to fly away in the wind. Made in Dorset, they provide all-year weather protection for smokers, and also discourage smoking at building entrances and other undesirable locations, and this can minimise risk of fire by discarded butts.
Smokey Treats use filters made from unbleached wood pulp, unbleached paper and with compostable outer wrap. Presently sold in Germany and South Africa, but soon elsewhere. Greenbutts make biodegradable cigarette filters that compost within days.
