Bin that Butt campaign launched by Plastic Free Axminster

Plastic Free Axminster, part of Surfers Against Sewage, has launched the Bin that Butt initiative to combat cigarette littering.

The group, supported by Axminster Town Council, Tesco Axminster, and Axminster Lions Club, aims to raise awareness about the environmental impact of cigarette butts, which contain plastic and numerous chemicals.

Many people are reportedly unaware that cigarette butts are made from plastic, contributing to the global issue of plastic pollution.

An estimated six trillion cigarettes are purchased annually worldwide, and around four trillion cigarette butts are discarded, making them the most littered item globally.

Despite the rise in vaping, significant amounts of cigarette ends are still found during litter picks around Axminster, both in the town centre and further afield.

Plastic Free Axminster has been working with local businesses, pubs, cafes, and shops, encouraging them to display posters to raise awareness of the dangers of cigarette littering.

The campaign is focused on educating smokers, but the group believes it is important for everyone to understand the facts.

When cigarette ends are tossed out of car windows, left on the beach, thrown into drains, or discarded on pavements, they can be blown by the wind, washed into waterways by the rain, and broken down into microplastics.

These microplastics eventually find their way into the food chain.

In 2019, a scientific study by Anglia Ruskin University found that cigarette butts in the soil can reduce the growth of some plants by a third.

Plastic Free Axminster is urging smokers to consider investing in a pocket ashtray for times when a litter bin is not within easy reach.

The group notes these 'mini bins' can easily fit into a pocket or handbag.

The group suggests these could also make thoughtful gifts for smokers, encouraging more responsible behaviour and reducing the environmental impact of cigarette littering.