Environmental Destruction
How the tobacco industry’s products affect us all through environmental impact
Published Apr 11, 2022
Tobacco products negatively impact and damage our environment. Cigarette butts are not just a nuisance, they are toxic waste. They contain chemicals that contaminate our waterways and ground soil and harm our wildlife.12 Discarded lit cigarettes can cause fires, which can damage homes and land.3It is also very costly to clean up cigarette waste – a problem that continues to grow every year.
Cigarette butts are the most littered item found on California highways and beaches.
The state spends more than $9 billion per year on tobacco-related medical costs. Another $8.5 billion per year is lost as a result of reduced work productivity due to increased employee smoking breaks, illness, and death.4
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Hold the industry accountable
California has already protected people from other harmful products, and it's time to hold the tobacco industry to the same standards.