Brussels has launched a comprehensive campaign to combat the careless discarding of cigarette butts in public spaces, the city declared on Monday.
The initiative, which began on Saturday, will conclude with a major event on 26 June at the Place de la Monnaie.
The campaign calls on the city’s residents, organisations and businesses to collect as many discarded cigarette ends as possible by month-end. The city’s cleaning service is offering the necessary equipment free of charge upon request by email or phone.
A showcase of the collected butts will be the centrepiece of the final event on 26 June at Place de la Monnaie. Pocket ashtrays will be distributed there, with local actors contributing to the event.
Cigarette butts pose a significant problem due to the impact they have on both public health and the environment. “A single cigarette butt contains nearly 2,500 toxic substances, capable of polluting up to 500,000 litres of water, Brussel’s authorities explain in a statement.
"When discarded, they often end up in waterways, severely affecting aquatic wildlife and plants. The toxins in the filters, such as nicotine, heavy metals and various chemicals, dissolve in water, contaminating aquatic ecosystems and posing a threat to our health,” they add.
“The smokers must realise that dropping a cigarette butt on the ground is not harmless and has enormous consequences,” urged Zoubida Jellab, Brussels Alderwoman responsible for Public Cleanliness and Green spaces. “Carrying a pocket ashtray should become an obligation.”
