Luxembourg authorities have launched a new campaign to remind the public that throwing cigarette butts on the ground or into drains is illegal and subject to a €145 fine.
The Water Management Authority, the Environment Agency, and Valorlux are launching a national campaign titled "Merci!" to raise awareness about the issue of improperly discarded cigarette butts.
The initiative aims to combat this common form of littering, which is punishable by law in Luxembourg with a fine of €145 for disposing of cigarette butts on the ground or in drains.
Many smokers habitually discard their cigarette butts improperly, often throwing them on the ground or into drains instead of using designated ashtrays or bins after extinguishing them. Cigarette butts significantly impact the environment. As they are made of plastic, they break down into micro-particles that persist in the environment and can enter the food chain.
To coincide with the campaign launch, the organisers wish to highlight some alarming statistics. Notably, there are currently over 100 million cigarette butts littering Luxembourg's landscape.
A survey revealed that one in two smokers in the Grand Duchy admits to having discarded a cigarette butt on the ground or in a drain. Globally, around 11 billion cigarette butts are discarded every day, with 40% of them ultimately ending up in the oceans.
