Cigarette Litter - A Discussion

[Regulator75]

It's probably one of my biggest gear grinders too. I've taken some personal action with some smokers. They then start swearing and speeding off.

I am the social assassin.

[taco.vidal]

Originally Posted by Regulator75

It's probably one of my biggest gear grinders too. I've taken some personal action with some smokers. They then start swearing and speeding off.

I am the social assassin.

The pigs dumping ashtrays in parking lots or at stoplights are the worst.

[Locke]

Heres my question: When is there not a garbage can?

I mean, Calgary is no 'Disneyland' or anything, but it is among one of the cleanest cities in the world and theres garbage cans damned near everywhere.

A few times I've even caught myself noticing garbage cans in the middle of nowhere and wondering to myself: "who the hell empties that? Who uses it? Who even knows its there?"

But there they are!

I just dont get the 'not being able to wait until theres a garbage can' theory.

And my dad used to be the worst! Flicking it out the car window. Damn I hated that.

I will say this as well: flicking your butts out into the ditch when we're all stopped on the highway because of a forest fire? I should be allowed to throw you into the fire. That is the lowest of the low.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by surferguy

Was just catching up on the Gear Grinder thread and the topic of cigarette litter came up. Personally I'm not a fan - in fact it infuriates me like nothing else. I've never smoked so I don't get it. Why on earth is it socially acceptable to just casually discard these butts anywhere we please?

I think this topic needs to be addressed in its own thread. Perhaps every time we see somebody toss a cigarette we should bump this thread. Maybe that will show just how much of a ugly problem it is.

Are you a smoker? How do you get rid of your butts? If you toss I am genuinely looking for an answer for why you don't discard it in an available garbage can or cigarette disposal container. You will probably get crucified but I would like to know reasons - maybe we can shed some light on a way to curb this problem.

Let's talk about cigarette litter and how we can fix it.

As a former smoker, cigarette butts to me are like a condom when you are done using it. Yeah it's a good time while it's in use. But as soon as it's done, the mentality is ''this this is f'ing disgusting, get it away from me!". That is how smokers think. The cigarette has served it's purpose. Now it's just a disgusting butt. It's no longer a smoke. So it has to leave my presence immediately. Some reason you find used condoms thrown on the ground. No one is going to carry a used condom or cigarette butt around with them looking for a garbage. It's just not going to happen.

When I was young I threw out my butts all over the place if an ashtray wasn't available. Was I an ass for doing it? Of course. I was young and dumb. But as a smoker you don't give a crap about littering. Many people in general don't.

When I see someone toss a smoke out their car now, it GMG. I wish police enforced it more often if they see someone doing it. One way to curb the problem is to have the bylaws enforced. It's illegal to litter or toss garbage/butts out the window while driving. So start treating it like the law treats distracted driving. Start hitting people where it hurts; in their wallets. My uncle works with CPS and I asked him this very question about throwing butts and littering in general. He said that sadly the bigger issue for law enforcement is distracted driving. Cigarette butts are no where close to the top of the list.

Other then that, I don't really see how you can put a stop to smokers littering their butts. It's going to keep happening. Maybe 'promote' vaps more? If anything, I take solace in the fact that I see less and less people smoking cigarettes these days and more people vaping. I've noticed much less cigarette butts when I walk around town. 10 years ago, that crap was everywhere.

[pseudoreality]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

As a former smoker, cigarette butts to me are like a condom when you are done using it. Yeah it's a good time while it's in use. But as soon as it's done, the mentality is ''this this is f'ing disgusting, get it away from me!". That is how smokers think. The cigarette has served it's purpose. Now it's just a disgusting butt. It's no longer a smoke. So it has to leave my presence immediately. Some reason you find used condoms thrown on the ground. No one is going to carry a used condom or cigarette butt around with them looking for a garbage. It's just not going to happen.

When I was young I threw out my butts all over the place if an ashtray wasn't available. Was I an ass for doing it? Of course. I was young and dumb. But as a smoker you don't give a crap about littering. Many people in general don't.

When I see someone toss a smoke out their car now, it GMG. I wish police enforced it more often if they see someone doing it. One way to curb the problem is to have the bylaws enforced. It's illegal to litter or toss garbage/butts out the window while driving. So start treating it like the law treats distracted driving. Start hitting people where it hurts; in their wallets. My uncle works with CPS and I asked him this very question about throwing butts and littering in general. He said that sadly the bigger issue for law enforcement is distracted driving. Cigarette butts are no where close to the top of the list.

Other then that, I don't really see how you can put a stop to smokers littering their butts. It's going to keep happening. Maybe 'promote' vaps more? If anything, I take solace in the fact that I see less and less people smoking cigarettes these days and more people vaping. I've noticed much less cigarette butts when I walk around town. 10 years ago, that crap was everywhere.

Thanks for the smokers rational of wanting to get rid of it ASAP. This is something that really gets to me. I confront people all the time and one day I'm probably going to get punched out for it. I use to have a downtown house and would always be cleaning up all sorts of litter out of my yard. One morning after just finishing cleaning up a well dressed women got out of her car in front my house and threw a butt right on the sidewalk in front me. I really let her have it.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by taco.vidal

The pigs dumping ashtrays in parking lots or at stoplights are the worst.

####ing cops amirite

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Canehdianman

How would you make the carcinogenic compounds that are created by burning the tobacco biodegrade?

The carcinogenic coumpounds are formed by burning organic material. They are 100% biodegradable just as the tobacco leaves themselves are. The butts are also biodegradable. They are typically composed of Cellulose Acetate, which is just plant fibre.

Butts just take a while to degrade. They're similar to wood.

[northcrunk]

I always throw my butts in an ashtray or put them out on the ground and pick up the butt to throw in the garbage. When I did smoke in my car I used the ashtray. I don't smoke and drive anymore since having kids as I don't want them getting second hand smoke from the fabric but I agree people who throw them out the window are morons.

No why would anyone throw a roach on the ground when you can re-roll them and have roach joints?

[KevanGuy]

Originally Posted by northcrunk

I don't smoke and drive anymore since having kids as I don't want them getting second hand smoke from the fabric

Was this a typo? Second hand smoke from fabric?

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I feel the same way about people that can't use the quote function.

I could care less what you think.

(Take that literally.)

[polak]

Originally Posted by northcrunk

I always throw my butts in an ashtray or put them out on the ground and pick up the butt to throw in the garbage. When I did smoke in my car I used the ashtray. I don't smoke and drive anymore since having kids as I don't want them getting second hand smoke from the fabric but I agree people who throw them out the window are morons.

No why would anyone throw a roach on the ground when you can re-roll them and have roach joints?

High school called....

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

I could care less what you think.

(Take that literally.)

I'm just glad someone cares.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

Was this a typo? Second hand smoke from fabric?

I assumed he meant stink.

Even if he isn't actively darting with the kids in the car, they will still stink after getting out of the car if he smokes when they are not there.

[dino7c]

I'm with you...drives me crazy people just toss them on the road or sidewalk

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I assumed he meant stink.

Even if he isn't actively darting with the kids in the car, they will still stink after getting out of the car if he smokes when they are not there.

The lingering smell on fabric really bothers my asthma as well

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by taco.vidal

Smokers have low intellect?

They pollute their own bodies so why wouldnt they litter the ground?

Now I've never been a cigarette smoker and think it's a disgusting habit, but do you have ANY evidence of this?

Some of the brightest people I've ever met have been smokers. In fact, many of the worlds greatest thinkers throughout history have had suicidal tendencies. They have the ability to analyze the world like few others can, and don't like the world they're a part of. There was even that recent case of a 14 year old prodigy who committed suicide out of nowhere.

I realize that's more deep than this thread ever needed to get, but just wanted to point that out. Intelligence is not measured by how well you treat your body, though there will obviously be correlation between the two.

I think it comes down to most smokers being apathetic. It's why they smoke and it's why they litter.

[surferguy]

Originally Posted by worth

I'm not a regular smoker but when I do I usually field strip as the video shows by rolling the butt between my fingers to discard the excess tobacco and then put the filter in my pocket if there is no garbage can around.

The times i'll toss a cigarette is when i'm drunk or smoking and angry or something, but you guys are right, it is not cool to litter. I'll make sure I field strip all from now on. Last time I smoked was on a camping trip three weeks ago, so I guess i'm not a huge contributor to the problem.

I appreciate the honesty Worth.

Maybe this is my main goal for this topic - if we can get smokers to actually think about when they toss their finished smokes maybe we can start to make a difference. The best way to make them think about it - keep the discussion active. Hence the repeated bumps when we see a tossed.

I started a hashtag on Twitter to try and bring about some awareness as well
Feel free to jump on board. #butttossyyc

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by polak

High school called....

I said rolled, not eat. You like wasting perfectly good pot?

[Canehdianman]

Title should just be "litter". Only litterer-smokers think there is a distinction.

Chocolate bar wrapper, pop bottle, cigarette butt. Same thing, all litter.

[surferguy]

Originally Posted by Canehdianman

Title should just be "litter". Only litterer-smokers think there is a distinction.

Chocolate bar wrapper, pop bottle, cigarette butt. Same thing, all litter.

When is the last time you witnessed somebody toss a snickers bar wrapper out the window at a stop light?