Op-ed | Cigarette firms must deal with their own mess

Discarded cigarette butts are ubiquitous and spoil our environment. Tobacco companies frame people who smoke as responsible for tobacco product waste and conveniently overlook the fact they create a toxic product that harms people and their settings.

In this opinion piece, we call on tobacco companies to be held responsible for the costs of tobacco product waste and suggest cellulose acetate filters, which take many years to break down and provide no reduction in the health risks smokers face, should no longer be allowed to be used as cigarette filters.

Otago Daily Times | Cigarette firms must deal with their own mess
Written by ASPIRE2025 Co-Directors Janet Hoek, Richard Edwards and Andrew Waa

For more information, please contact:
Janet Hoek
University of Otago
email: janet.hoek@otago.ac.nz