To celebrate Earth Month, Carlsbad Village Association is joining forces with two of its members, Pure Project Carlsbad and Handel's Ice Cream, for a tobacco waste focused cleanup on April 16th!
Did you know that:
- Cigarette filters (the plastic materials inside cigarette butts) are the most commonly polluted plastic in the world.
- Cigarette filters also contain hundreds of toxic chemicals like arsenic, lead and nicotine.
- Cigarette butts may never completely degrade, but will continue releasing chemicals into the ground for years. These chemicals can remain in the environment for many years, with long-lasting negative effects not only on land but natural water systems and wildlife as well.
- E-cigarettes have contributed to the tobacco waste problem because their single-use plastic pods, batteries and chemical residues make them hazardous waste that cannot be recycled.
- Discarded cigarette butts have been linked to hundreds of wildfires, leading to massive destruction of buildings, homes, vegetation and wildlife.
This member-hosted cleanup will take place on Saturday, April 16th from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Participants should meet on the front patio of Pure Project (2825 State St.) where you will receive supplies including buckets, burlap bags, gloves and grabbers (while supplies last). Feel free to bring your own!
The top three weigh-ins will win gift certificates for the most cigarette BUTTS collected and winners can choose from either pints of ice cream or pints of beer. Discount tokens offered to all participants.
The SDSU Tobacco Product Waste Reduction Project will be on-site with education and help document recovery efforts through the Marine Debris tracking app.
For additional clean-up opportunities in Carlsbad throughout the month of April, in celebration of Earth Month, visit our blog Carlsbad Grower Greener By The Day.