Tobacco Industry Accountability for Marine Pollution
Author Information
Author(s): Deborah K Sy
Primary Institution: Global Center for Good Governance in Tobacco Control, Bangkok, Thailand
Hypothesis
What is the economic burden of plastic tobacco waste on countries?
Conclusion
Cigarette filters are significant sources of marine pollution, and efforts to reduce plastic pollution should specifically address them.
Supporting Evidence
- Governments bear the economic burden of managing the waste and environmental pollution due to discarded filters.
- An estimated US$25.7 billion is lost annually due to cigarette plastic sources.
- Countries are making progress in developing plastics policies, particularly banning single-use ones.
Takeaway
Cigarette butts are a big problem for our oceans because they are made of plastic and are often thrown away carelessly. This study shows that cleaning them up costs a lot of money.
Methodology
The study reviewed public data sources to estimate the economic burden of plastic tobacco waste based on cigarette consumption and applied cost estimates for waste management and ecosystem losses.
Limitations
The estimation method does not account for the toxic properties of cigarette butts, which may increase cleanup costs.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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