Cigarette Butt Litter
Cigarettes are one of the leading contributors to pollution in the environment today, this can be seen through our data as a majority (83.44%) of litter we have cleaned comes from cigarette butts. We have made it a priority of ours to cleanup as many cigarette butts from the environment that we possible can through programs like our annual butt blitz.
Why Do We Collect Data?
Collecting litter data allows us to better understand which types of litter are the most prevalent in our ecosystems. When you think of plastic pollution, you probably think of the Ocean. Many people don’t realize that plastic pollution is also a big problem in the Great Lakes. The data we collect helps to illustrate the gravity of the issue and provides communities with the knowledge to take action.
How We Collect Data
Our data is collected using a community science model, in which our volunteers participate in the data collection process. Volunteers receive training in the handing, sorting, and recording of litter data. We believe this method empowers volunteers, builds collective knowledge, and inspires meaningful engagement with the environment.