Cigarettes are litter, no ifs or butts

IT seems many peopl do not realise they are causing litter when they throw a cigarette butt on the ground.

It can result in a €150 on-the-spot fine under the Litter Act.

Cigarette waste, which includes butts, packets, matches, matchboxes and wrapping, now accounts for 54% of all litter, according to the Litter Pollution Monitoring System run by the Department of the Environment, followed by chewing gum on 15% and packaging, 12%.