Cigarette Butts Ranked #1 In Litter
By: Garret Krier
Updated: April 18, 2012
One piece of toxic litter is filling up our streets more than anything else, at least according to one new environmental report..
You do not have to walk far to see cigarette butts along the streets of Fayetteville.
But one city expert says it is the butts you can't see that could be doing the most damage.
"It is really gross," said one person. "I see cigarette butts on the ground when I run around the park," said another. "I think it sets a bad example for the young," said one person.
The Legacy Environmental Impact Survey calls cigarettes the most littered item in America. "It is very disturbing," said Roxanne Worthy who is a plant specialist for the City of Fayetteville.
Part of her job is overseeing a team which keeps shrubs, bushes and flower beds clean. "They use the plants as ashtrays," said Worthy. Worthy says she has picked as many as 50-cigarette butts out of one flower bed.
"I have been here 17-years and it has never gotten any better," said Worthy. According to Worthy, cigarette butts have a deeper, darker and dirtier impact on the environment.
"They have nicotine in them which some plants if they get around nicotine will actually die," said Worthy. Plus, Worthy says rainwater washes nicotine off the cigarette and into the ground which is also not good for plants.
"It makes me think people are ignorant that they do not realize how much work goes into us maintaining the beds," said Worthy. "If you can smoke then you should be able to throw it away instead of on the ground," said one person.
If you get caught littering in Fayetteville you can face a fine of 145 dollars.
You do not have to walk far to see cigarette butts along the streets of Fayetteville.
But one city expert says it is the butts you can't see that could be doing the most damage.
"It is really gross," said one person. "I see cigarette butts on the ground when I run around the park," said another. "I think it sets a bad example for the young," said one person.
The Legacy Environmental Impact Survey calls cigarettes the most littered item in America. "It is very disturbing," said Roxanne Worthy who is a plant specialist for the City of Fayetteville.
Part of her job is overseeing a team which keeps shrubs, bushes and flower beds clean. "They use the plants as ashtrays," said Worthy. Worthy says she has picked as many as 50-cigarette butts out of one flower bed.
"I have been here 17-years and it has never gotten any better," said Worthy. According to Worthy, cigarette butts have a deeper, darker and dirtier impact on the environment.
"They have nicotine in them which some plants if they get around nicotine will actually die," said Worthy. Plus, Worthy says rainwater washes nicotine off the cigarette and into the ground which is also not good for plants.
"It makes me think people are ignorant that they do not realize how much work goes into us maintaining the beds," said Worthy. "If you can smoke then you should be able to throw it away instead of on the ground," said one person.
If you get caught littering in Fayetteville you can face a fine of 145 dollars.
