The Ugly Truth About Cigarette Litter

When we picture litter, most of us think of plastic bottles, fast food containers, or soda cans. But one of the most widespread and harmful types of litter in the United States is often overlooked: cigarette butts. 

They’re small, easy to miss, and everywhere. But their impact is far greater than their size would suggest.

Cigarette Butts: America’s Most Common Litter 

Every year, more than 9 billion cigarette butts are littered in the U.S. This makes them the single most littered item in the country. 

You’ll find them on sidewalks, in parking lots, at parks and trailheads, and along beaches and storm drains. They often blend into the environment, but they don’t disappear. 

Once discarded, cigarette butts are washed into storm drains and eventually into rivers, lakes, and oceans. 

What’s in a Cigarette Filter? 

Cigarette filters aren’t made of paper. They’re composed of a type of plastic called cellulose acetate. 

Filters are designed to trap toxic substances, and once discarded, they continue to leach those same toxins—nicotine, arsenic, lead, and other chemicals—into the surrounding environment. 

Even worse, they take 10 to 15 years to degrade. And even then, they break down into microplastics, not organic material. 

Impact on Wildlife and the Food Chain 

Cigarette butts are commonly mistaken for food by birds, fish, and marine animals. Ingesting them can cause internal blockages, poisoning, and often death. 

But the issue doesn’t stop with animals. When cigarette waste enters waterways, the chemicals can contaminate water sources and accumulate in the food chain.

A Known Fire Hazard 

In dry conditions, a single lit cigarette can cause a brush fire or worse. Each year, thousands of fires in the U.S. are linked to improperly discarded cigarettes. The risk is especially high in summer and fall months, when vegetation is dry and temperatures are elevated. 

Difficult to Remove, Dangerous to Ignore 

Cigarette butts are notoriously difficult to pick up. They’re small, lightweight, and often lodged in hard-to-reach places like grass, sand, and gravel. 

Trying to collect them by hand is unsanitary and inefficient. And many traditional litter grabbers struggle to grip something so small. 

This is where the right tool makes a real difference. 

At ArcMate, we designed the Orang-U-Tongs Grippy Collapsible  with litter like this in mind. The rubber-lined jaws provide precise grip on small items, with a convenient “tooth” to pull items like cigarette butts out of sidewalk cracks. 

What You Can Do 

Solving cigarette litter doesn’t require massive campaigns or high-tech solutions. It starts with awareness and a few practical steps. 

• Encourage proper disposal with public ashtrays or portable pocket ashtrays 

• Join or organize a local cleanup event 

• Report high-litter areas to your city or local agencies 

• Use an app such as xLitter to collect data and report your findings! 

• Use tools that make litter collection safer and more effective 

The Grippy Collapsible Pickers are a simple way to help, whether you’re part of a cleanup crew or just someone tired of seeing cigarette butts along your usual walking route. 

Every Butt Counts 

Cigarette litter may seem like a minor issue, but it has serious consequences for our environment, our cities, and our health. By addressing it head-on, we can prevent toxins from entering our waterways, protect wildlife, and reduce fire risks in vulnerable areas. 

Even small actions can have a lasting impact. And if you’re looking for tools that make cleanups more efficient, we’ve designed them to help you do just that. 

Explore the Grippy Collapsible 2-Pack and see how one small change can help tackle a big problem.