Tobacco product waste cleanups and costs
Abstract Tobacco Product Waste (TPW), which includes discarded cigarette butts, packaging materials, e-cigarette components, and other tobacco-related litter, is a growing environmental concern. TPW represents the most commonly littered waste item globally, yet its economic environmental impact is o...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Discover Environment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-025-00234-6 |
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| _version_ | 1850184794507313152 |
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| author | Maddie Leestma Thomas E. Novotny Ronald Shadbegian John Schneider Juleen Lam Nicolas Lopez-Galvez Rebecca J. Williams |
| author_facet | Maddie Leestma Thomas E. Novotny Ronald Shadbegian John Schneider Juleen Lam Nicolas Lopez-Galvez Rebecca J. Williams |
| author_sort | Maddie Leestma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Tobacco Product Waste (TPW), which includes discarded cigarette butts, packaging materials, e-cigarette components, and other tobacco-related litter, is a growing environmental concern. TPW represents the most commonly littered waste item globally, yet its economic environmental impact is often underestimated. Discarded cigarette butts are not only a public nuisance; they release toxic chemicals and plastic into the environment, posing risks to ecosystems and human health. Cities have conducted litter audits to support TPW mitigation policies, including applying litter fees to tobacco products to offset cleanup costs. Such interventions can reduce tobacco product waste, particularly in communities and environmental settings most affected by tobacco use. Voluntary cleanups by communities, environmental advocacy organizations, and concerned citizens have emerged as a response to TPW. However, TPW cleanups currently lack standardized protocols, hindering effective monitoring and policy development. This study conducted a limited review of published reports and found that various non-profit organizations lack standardized data collection methods. To address this, we recommend a standardized approach that includes elements such as hours spent collecting TPW and number of volunteers involved, which can then be assigned a monetary value to the person-hours expended during these events. This proposed method makes it possible to estimate some of the negative economic externalities attributable to TPW pollution to order to inform policy and surveillance activities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-012a0b6ceff6453999cf2649a7cc0487 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2731-9431 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-012a0b6ceff6453999cf2649a7cc04872025-08-20T02:16:56ZengSpringerDiscover Environment2731-94312025-04-013111110.1007/s44274-025-00234-6Tobacco product waste cleanups and costsMaddie Leestma0Thomas E. Novotny1Ronald Shadbegian2John Schneider3Juleen Lam4Nicolas Lopez-Galvez5Rebecca J. Williams6Department of Economics, San Diego State UniversitySchool of Public Health, San Diego State UniversityDepartment of Economics, Appalachian State UniversityAvalon Economics, LLCDepartment of Public Health, California State University East BaySchool of Public Health, San Diego State UniversityCalifornia Tobacco Prevention Program, California Department of Public HealthAbstract Tobacco Product Waste (TPW), which includes discarded cigarette butts, packaging materials, e-cigarette components, and other tobacco-related litter, is a growing environmental concern. TPW represents the most commonly littered waste item globally, yet its economic environmental impact is often underestimated. Discarded cigarette butts are not only a public nuisance; they release toxic chemicals and plastic into the environment, posing risks to ecosystems and human health. Cities have conducted litter audits to support TPW mitigation policies, including applying litter fees to tobacco products to offset cleanup costs. Such interventions can reduce tobacco product waste, particularly in communities and environmental settings most affected by tobacco use. Voluntary cleanups by communities, environmental advocacy organizations, and concerned citizens have emerged as a response to TPW. However, TPW cleanups currently lack standardized protocols, hindering effective monitoring and policy development. This study conducted a limited review of published reports and found that various non-profit organizations lack standardized data collection methods. To address this, we recommend a standardized approach that includes elements such as hours spent collecting TPW and number of volunteers involved, which can then be assigned a monetary value to the person-hours expended during these events. This proposed method makes it possible to estimate some of the negative economic externalities attributable to TPW pollution to order to inform policy and surveillance activities.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-025-00234-6 |
| spellingShingle | Maddie Leestma Thomas E. Novotny Ronald Shadbegian John Schneider Juleen Lam Nicolas Lopez-Galvez Rebecca J. Williams Tobacco product waste cleanups and costs Discover Environment |
| title | Tobacco product waste cleanups and costs |
| title_full | Tobacco product waste cleanups and costs |
| title_fullStr | Tobacco product waste cleanups and costs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tobacco product waste cleanups and costs |
| title_short | Tobacco product waste cleanups and costs |
| title_sort | tobacco product waste cleanups and costs |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-025-00234-6 |
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