press release
    25th May 2004

Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) have cautiously welcomed the steps taken by Sydney Councillors in adopting a smoking ban on city beaches where as many as 700,000 cigarette butts are left in the sand at any one time. However improved education from local authorities where beachgoers are reminded to remove their cigarette butts responsibly should be the first step forward. Although small, cigarette butts are a big problem! They were the seventh most common form of beach litter found in the UK last year (Marine Conservation Society 2003 Beachwatch) and take years to decompose as the filters are made of cellulose acetate, a type of plastic. When in the water the harmful chemicals the cigarette filters were designed to trap, can leak out into aquatic ecosystems threatening the quality of water and its wildlife.

The risk to wildlife is significant and it is not uncommon to find the 'butts' in the stomachs of fish, birds or whales that have mistaken them for food. SAS has been distributing pocket ashtrays or 'butt bins' in the past to beachgoers, urging them to put their discarded butts in those and empty them in bins off the beach instead of leaving them in the sand. All popular beaches in the UK should have visible bins to put out cigarette's, and improved signage carrying the 'No Butts On The Beach' slogan.

Richard Hardy, SAS Campaigns Director says: "The only butts you should see on the beach are the ones above your legs! Smokers may not realise their actions are having such a lasting and negative effect on the beach. With a little effort they can make a big difference to the quality of our water and protect those who live in it".

For further information please contact Richard on Tel: 01872 553001.

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