The biggest myth about cigarette waste, and the one most relevant to smoking’s impact on the ocean, is the suggestion that cigarette filters are biodegradable.

Cigarette butts are a pervasive, long-lasting, and a toxic form of marine debris. They primarily reach our waterways through improper disposal on beaches, rivers, and anywhere on land, transported to our coasts by runoff and stormwater. Once butts reach the beach, they may impact marine organisms and habitats.