Candidates advocating for environmental issues launch an hourly drive to amass 3300 discarded cigarette butts
In a recent environmental protection action, engaged citizens gathered in Wickrath and Rheindahlen, collected approximately 3,300 cigarette butts, and highlighted the importance of reducing the impact of these discarded items on the environment.
The action, spearheaded by local representatives, aimed to draw attention to the harmful substances found in cigarette filters. These filters contain around 7,000 harmful substances, including nicotine, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, and lead. The plastic cellulose acetate filters, which make up the majority of cigarette filters, can take up to 400 years to decompose into microplastic.
Michael Reichmann, a candidate for Rheindahlen-Land, emphasised the importance of not littering cigarette butts into the environment. He plans to continue an information campaign and offer practical alternatives, such as promoting cigarette reuse or collection programs, and advocating for the development of biodegradable or compostable filters.
Beate Wyen, a direct candidate for Rheindahlen, expressed the importance of environmental protection in daily life, stating that the large number of cigarette butts collected underscores this need.
The collected cigarette butts will be exhibited for public viewing on Thursday, August 21, from 9 to 12 noon at the Wickrath weekly market, and on Friday, August 22, from 1 to 4 pm in Rheindahlen at Gladbacher Straße corner Hardter Straße (in front of Edeka).
Uli Laubach, district representative, stressed the seriousness of the microplastic issue, citing a 2022 study by MedUni Vienna which suggests weekly ingestion of approximately 5 grams of microplastic, equivalent to the size of a credit card.
The Greens will use the exhibition as an opportunity to inform the public about the environmental effects of discarded cigarette butts and distribute free practical pocket ashtrays made of metal.
By focusing on eliminating traditional plastic filters and adopting biodegradable or innovative filter technologies, we can address both the persistence of cigarette butts in the environment and their toxic impact on ecosystems. This approach, coupled with policies to reduce littering and improve disposal, is crucial in our ongoing efforts to protect the environment.
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