The environmental issues of cigarettes
Environmental issues consists of the usual topics such as pollution, water conservation, and deforestation, but fingers are hardly ever pointed at the nicotine junkie who smokes a cigarette down to the filter, who then just flicks the remains to the ground. People fail to notice that cigarette butts are not biodegradable and according to the California department of transportation cigarettes make up 34% of total waste in California. In the essays "Waste Not, Want Not" by Bill Mckibben and "Eating Green" by Margret Lundberg they both agree that an individual can make a great impact of the well being of the environment by cutting back and living a more simplistic life. On the other hand Derrick Jensen's article "Forget Shorter Showers" focuses on the idea that in order to make a real impact, the government is necessary to fulfill the role of the noticeable change. I believe both the individual and the government need to take steps to make a difference in the environment. But in this case with the topic of the environmental issue of cigarettes an individual's actions can make a difference by letting go of their nicotine cravings and realizing that they are not just hurting his or her body but also the environment when they throw the remains of the cigarette to the ground, the pollution in the air they let out after each puff and realizing how much each pack they purchase affects the forests.
Cigarette butts make up a massive percentage of waste in the United States. What most people do not realize is that cigarette butts are not biodegradable, it was just a false myth that has been passed down. Cigarette butts do not decompose completely and are the most common toxic waste found in cleanups and number one item found on California highways.Acording to the online article "Cigarette Butts are Toxic Waste" a study from 2005 estimated that 135 million pounds of cigarette butts were dumped in the the US environment, note...