ATTACHMENT III
Pros and Cons of Cigarette Receptacles in Public Spaces
Pros
• Cigarette butts have toxic impacts,
leaching toxic chemicals, such as arsenic
and lead, and the filters contain
microplastics. Once littered, they can
easily make their way into waterways,
negatively impacting the environment
and marine life. If cigarette butt
receptacles are used and prevent
littering, they will help avoid the
negative impacts on the environment
and marine life.
1,2
• According to “Litter in America”, a Keep
America Beautiful national study, just
one additional ash receptacle can
decrease the amount of cigarette litter
by nine percent in its respective area.
3 • Surfrider’s San Francisco chapter
installed public cigarette receptacles in
select neighborhoods and have
experienced a 60% decrease in
cigarette butt litter (2019).
4 As of 2021,
Surfrider has installed 175 new
cigarette receptacles (total of 250), in
addition to a public service
announcement and infographic.5
• Communities who have participated in
Keep America Beautiful’s Cigarette
Litter Prevention Program have
consistently cut cigarette litter by 50%.6
1 https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/08/magazine/who-
made-that-cigarette-
filter.html#:~:text=In%20the%201950s%2C%20an%20RJ
2 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31357681/
3 https://kab.org/wp-
content/uploads/2019/09/LitterinAmerica_FactSheet_Cigaret teButtLitter.pdf
4 https://therevelator.org/cigarette-butt-litter-solutions/ 5 https://sf.surfrider.org/news/2021/08/26/surfrider-
foundation-and-noaa-launch-love-sf-hold-on-to-your-butt- campaign-to-prevent-cigarette-litter-in-san-francisco
6 https://www.nrpa.org/parks-recreation-
magazine/2019/june/keep-america-beautiful-cigarette-litter- prevention-program/
Cons
• City staff would need to find time to
service the receptacles.
• Potential fire hazard if community
members do not put out their cigarette
before using the receptacle.
7 • Potential to encourage smoking.
However, a case study in San
Francisco’s Union Square did not show
any increase in smoker activity.8
• Some cities have seen an increase in
vandalism, as people attempt to break
into the receptacles to access remaining
cigarettes.
9 • The receptacles may be considered
unsightly and may add to visual clutter.
7 https://www.ellsworthamerican.com/news/no-butts-about- it-fire-department-urges-caution-with-use-of-cigarette- receptacles/article_baded2d2-ac45-5600-b031-
a8e8e56db596.html
8 https://sf.surfrider.org/news/2017/04/24/terracycle-and- the-union-square-bid-a-cigarette-litter-reduction-success- story#:~:text=Have%20they%20seen%20any%20evidence%
20that%20the%20receptacles,included%20nightclubs%2C%2
0youth%20hostels%2C%20and%20near%20trash%20cans%
29. 9
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/van dals-blamed-for-cigarette-butts-being-strewn-across-brisbane- city-20171013-p4ywgj.html