Earth Day

Earth Day celebrates the Earth's natural environment Founded by former Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson First celebrated on April 22, 1970 Earth Day is celebrated in more than 175 countries every year

What does Earth Day have to do with tobacco use? Ocean Conservancy provides a snapshot of marine trash picked up around the world during International Coastal Cleanup.

International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Project Cigarettes are the most littered item in America accounting for nearly one of every four items collected.

International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Project In North Carolina smoking-related products accounted for over 32% of the trash found during the 2007 ICC Project.

Impact of cigarette butts on the environment Cigarettes are bad for the environment. Cigarette butts can pollute streams, rivers, and beaches.

Butts are NOT biodegradable Cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate, not cotton. Cellulose acetate filters do not degrade quickly and may last in the environment for as long as 18 months or even years.

Cigarettes as Toxic Waste Cigarettes contain harmful toxins and can be ingested accidentally by wildlife or even small children.

Cigarettes and Fire Cigarette butts thrown from moving cars frequently cause deadly fires when tossed into dried grass.

What you can do to help Hold a cigarette butts clean up Talk to your friends and family Reduce, reuse and recycle Learn and make a TRU change

Want to learn more? To see photos of the 2010 ICC clean up, visit Facebook Ocean Conservancy, Photos, 2010 International Coastal Cleanup For more information on visit