The city of Erlangen is taking action against pollution caused by cigarette butts. A campaign urges smokers to dispose of their cigarette butts responsibly instead of carelessly tossing them on the ground.

A key element of the campaign is the compact Erlangen “Ashtray-to-Go.” It holds cigarette butts no matter where you are. It’s available in hard plastic or aluminum. Both fit easily into any pants pocket. They help smokers dispose of their “cigarette butts” properly and in an environmentally friendly way—and keep Erlangen clean.

E-cigarettes

E-cigarettes are electrical and electronic devices and also contain batteries such as lithium-ion batteries. They contain both valuable raw materials—for example, in the microprocessors—and hazardous substances. Therefore, they do not belong in household trash.

Since used e-cigarettes are waste electrical and electronic equipment, they must be handed over to an authorized collection entity (manufacturers, municipal collection points, or retailers).

For more information, see “Disposing of E-Cigarettes Properly”

The “Ashtray-to-Go” is available free of charge at:

• Department of Urban Greenery, Waste Management, and Street Cleaning, Stintzingstraße 46, 91052 Erlangen, Main Entrance
• Waste Advisory Service at the Office for Environmental Protection and Energy Issues, Schuhstraße 40, 91052 Erlangen, Ground Floor, Room 010

Take Responsibility

Smokers are responsible for what happens to their cigarette butts. Many people carelessly flick cigarette butts away without giving it a second thought. It’s no coincidence that so many cigarette butts litter streets and fields, bus stops, and playgrounds. Cigarette butts lying on the ground harm the environment and affect plant and animal life. The chemicals leach out quickly, while the filters take 10 to 15 years to decompose. This “improper waste disposal” is an administrative offense that can result in a fine.

Throw It in the Trash

That’s set to change: The “Ich tu’s” campaign calls on smokers to do better. After all, once you’ve finished smoking, your cigarette butt belongs in the trash—not on the ground. This protects the environment and makes Erlangen cleaner.

Cigarette butts on the ground destroy the environment and harm plants and animals (Photo: Pixabay/Dietmar_S)

Did you know?!

• Only one in four cigarette butts in Germany is disposed of properly.
• 580 billion cigarette butts pollute Europe every year.
• A cigarette contains thousands of harmful substances, including carcinogens.
• For every cigarette butt, two to six milligrams of toxic nicotine end up in the environment.
• According to the WHO, 4.5 trillion cigarette butts pollute our planet every year.
• A single cigarette butt can contaminate up to 1,000 liters of water.

Erlangen stays clean

In addition to the damage to the environment, cigarette butts also litter the city. Littered streets and public spaces create a poor impression and reduce the “feel-good factor” of being outdoors. Cigarette butts thoughtlessly tossed aside must be picked up one by one by hand or vacuumed up by city cleaning crews. What can be done? Get involved in Erlangen’s “Ich tu’s” campaign and, instead of throwing butts on the ground, dispose of them responsibly in the future using a portable ashtray, a trash can, or an ashtray insert.