The new regulations in Spain by which tobacco companies will have to clean cigarette butts

Tobacco companies will have to clean cigarette butts from the streets and beaches of Spainaccording to a new environmental regulation.

Millions of cigarette butts are thrown away each year, releasing toxic plastic waste that can take decades to decompose.v

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About a fifth of Spaniards smoke every dayaccording to 2020 figures.

The regulation went into effect on Friday, but it is not yet clear how it will be applied or if the costs will be passed on to consumers.

A report by the Fundación Catalana Rezero estimated that local authorities in Catalonia pay between 12 and 21 euros (US$13-22) per inhabitant annually for cigarette cleaning on the roads, with higher rates in coastal areas.

The document describes cigarette waste as “the most abundant” on the beaches of the western Mediterranean and adds that the existing measures to reduce it, such as awareness campaigns and portable ashtrays on the beaches, have been insufficient.

The new rules make manufacturers responsible for the collection of discarded cigarette butts, as well as their transport for waste treatment.

The tobacco industry association, the Mesa del Tabaco, declared that it is still awaiting details on how the regulations will be applied, according to local media reports.

continental problem

Most cigarette butts contain cellulose acetate fiber filters, a type of bioplastic.

According to scientists, contamination by microplastics can hinder plant growth.

The new rules stem from a law passed last year that bans single-use plastics, such as cutlery and straws, designed to comply with a European Union directive.

Ireland introduced similar legislation on Thursday requiring tobacco companies to contribute to the cost of cigarette waste.

Nearly half of the litter in Ireland is cigarette-related, according to the country’s National Litter Pollution Monitoring System.

Spain has introduced a series of radical measures to curb smoking in recent years.

Smoking was prohibited last July on all public beaches in Barcelona and offenders were fined 30 euros ($32).

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.