Responsible smoking

Cigarette butts are the most commonly littered item in the United States. We've all seen it, smokers just tossing their butts on the ground or out the window of a car as if it wasn't litter. Even normally environmentally conscious individuals are frequently guilty of this behavior. As it turns out though, the filters themselves cause more harm to the environment than meets the eye. A cigarette filter takes between 18 months and ten years to break down, and even then the acetate that the filter is made of is then present in the environment. What's worse however, is the tar and other toxins in filters that were absorbed from the tobacco. It's no secret that some of the most harmful toxins known to humanity are present in major cigarette brands. When it rains, it pours, since these toxins easily wash out of the filter and into the ground, possibly contaminating water sources. So if you are a smoker, take the effort to find a trashcan. If you need another reason to quit, consider the effects of cigarettes on the environment.