Cigarette butts are not only the number one item collected annually during our clean-ups, but they are also the most littered item globally. These single-use plastic butts pose a significant threat to marine ecosystems.

“This is a milestone achievement by our dedicated volunteers and community members,” said Marine Debris Campaign Coordinator Karolina Strittmatter. “However, it’s a very sad and concerning number for the marine environment and the ocean. These toxic butts pose a serious threat to local habitats and marine life, which often mistake them for food.”

As part of our effort to tackle this issue, Sea Shepherd is working alongside No More Butts, an organisation focused on cigarette waste prevention and sees a future where tobacco waste is not carelessly littered into the environment.

Shannon Mead the founder of organisation congratulated the achievement. “Congratulations to Sea Shepherd for preventing one million butts from entering our waterways and damaging our ecosystems. While this is an epic milestone, we must also acknowledge that every hour, one million more cigarette butts are littered into the Australian environment. We urgently need strong extended producer responsibility laws and should consider a national ban on these plastic items to stop the next million from entering our environment. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Sea Shepherd and other like-minded organisations to #BanTheButt.”

Sea Shepherd is incredibly grateful to every person who has taken the time to pick up even a single cigarette butt and contribute to this achievement.

Together, we can protect the ocean and fight against plastic pollution.

Join us at our next clean-up event and be part of the change.