Koster, Dewi (2025) Butt out: Tackling the Litter Crisis of Cigarette filters. Research Project, Chemistry.
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Abstract
Cigarette butts (CBs) are the most common litter worldwide, posing environmental risks due to slow degradation and toxic chemical leaching. This report, from an internship at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (I&W), examines CB pollution’s chemical composition, impact, and policy landscape. The goal is to reduce CB litter by 70% in 2026. CBs contain harmful substances like nicotine, PAHs, and heavy metals, which leach into the environment, harming microorganisms, aquatic life, and plants. Their full ecotoxicity remains understudied, and regulatory frameworks do not address CB leachate. Additionally, CBs contribute to microplastic pollution, with 0.3 million tons of cellulose acetate microfibers released annually. Many smokers do not see CBs as waste, leading to widespread littering. The EU’s Single-Use Plastics (SUP) Directive classifies CBs as plastic waste and mandates Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), shifting cleanup costs to tobacco companies. Existing measures, such as awareness campaigns and fines, have had limited success. A key recommendation is an EU-wide cigarette filter ban under the SUP Directive’s 2027 review. Regulations on nicotine, PAH, and heavy metal leaching under the EU Waste Framework Directive could further reduce pollution. Expanding warning labels, public education, and stronger enforcement would also support CB reduction efforts.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Research Project) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Nieuwenhof-Schilstra, M.J. van den and Browne, W.R. |
| Degree programme: | Chemistry |
| Thesis type: | Research Project |
| Language: | English |
| Date Deposited: | 06 Mar 2025 10:25 |
| Last Modified: | 06 Mar 2025 10:25 |
| URI: | https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/34842 |
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