Tooele County Health Department Logo
Tooele County Health Department
Utah's Local Health Districts
Link to TCHD Home Page
Tooele County Health Department Banner Link to Administration Link to Community Services Link to Environmental Health Link to Family and School Health Link to Support Services Link to Healthy Smiles Dental Clinic Link to "Contact Us"
Link to site map
Cigarette Butt Littter
Link back to Community Services - TCHD
Link back to Health Promotion
Back to Tobacco Prevention Main Page
Link back to Smoke Free Parks
 
 



   
 
Cigarette Butts
An estimated 5.5 trillion commerically produced cigarette butts were flipped by smokers last year into the environment. 

Over 3 million plastic wrappers from cigarette packages are tossed into the environment  each year. 

 

 
 
 

These butts are flipped all over the country, in parks, zoos, hiking trails, campgrounds, even beaches.  Against popular belief, cigarette filters are not made of cotton.  They are made from cellulose acetate, which is a plastic. Most filters decompose in approximately ten years, but it can take up to 22 years for one filter butt to decompose in some situations.

Butts also pose a serious health hazard to children and animals.  The toxic residue in butts not only litters the environment, but seeps into underground water systems and poisons the soil.

 

In Utah, 10 out of the 12 health districts are working to make parks in their counties smoke free.  Smoke Free Parks is one way to improve the health of citizens as well as protect the environment.

 
 
Email the WebMaster
Email the Web Master

Tooele County Health Department Division of Community Services
151 North Main Street   • Tooele Utah • 84074
(435) 277 - 2440 • Fax (435) 277-2444