Cigarette butts make up more than half of litter

Despite a significant decline in the number of smokers in recent years, cigarette butts still make up more than half of the litter on our streets.

According to HSE statistics, 17.5% of people were smokers in 2017 down from 21.5% in 2013. Yet, the latest National Litter Pollution Report has revealed that last year 56.3% of litter across the local authorities was cigarette-related, predominantly butts. And the report found there was an almost 1% increase in the prevalence of cigarette litter compared to the previous year.

Also up, this time by 3.3% to 17.6%, is the amount of packaging litter such as cardboard, paper, bottles, glass and cans.