Clean city of Anklam: sponsors wanted for ashtrays!

Clean city of Anklam: sponsors wanted for ashtrays!

In the small Hanseatic town of Anklam, spring is not only a time of renewal, but also a call for collective action. Around 150 committed helpers recently took part in the spring campaign “Anklam cleans itself out”. A high proportion of cigarette residue was removed from streets and paths. To prevent future mountains of waste, the city administration plans to place public ashtrays at selected points to make the city center clean and inviting. This is particularly necessary because, as nordkurier.de reports, the city is actively calling for sponsors who are willing to regularly empty the ashtrays and remove minor dirt.

City manager Florian Parr has already sought discussions with business owners at the monthly retailers' breakfast in order to push this project forward. Interested citizens have until July 18th to register as sponsors. The city is not only responsible for purchasing and assembling the ashtrays, but also repairing them. In return, the supporters receive a sponsorship certificate - which makes the Anklamer's heart beat faster for the environment!

Cigarette butts – a major environmental problem

In recent years in particular, it has become increasingly clear how serious the problem surrounding cigarette remains has become. According to WHO statistics, cigarette butts are the most common waste product worldwide. A staggering 4.5 trillion cigarettes end up in the environment every year, making it a major contributor to pollution. The [Tagesschau](https://www.tagesschau.de/wissen/forschung/zigarettenstummel-umwelt Schaden-100.html) explains that two thirds of smoked cigarettes are not disposed of correctly. A single cigarette butt contains harmful substances such as nicotine, arsenic and hydrogen cyanide, which not only pollute the water balance but can also cause significant harm to wildlife.

The harmful components in cigarette filters are notorious. While they decompose extremely slowly in nature - up to 15 years in fresh water and up to 400 years in the sea - they can cause significant environmental damage. A study has also shown that cigarette butts per liter of water can cause considerable damage: within a few days, the water from one cigarette butt can even kill half of the fish living there!

Dispose of correctly for a clean future

So what to do? Proper disposal of cigarette butts could avoid many of the negative consequences and allow them to be returned for recycling. A simple concept would be to dispose of the leftovers in the trash instead of carelessly throwing them into nature or even disposing of them in the toilet. An ideal solution for on the go are pocket ashtrays, which are also recommended by aschenbecher.com.

Additional attention should be paid to the responsibility of cigarette manufacturers. The BUND demands that they pay for publicity campaigns on environmental risks and finance closed ashtrays in public trash cans. It is important to implement the EU Single-Use Plastic Directive and impose appropriate fines for the improper disposal of cigarette butts.

A first step is now being taken in Anklam to raise awareness of the problem and to actively involve citizens in environmental protection. So if you have a good knack for cleanliness and want to protect not only the city but also nature, you are welcome to contact the city manager - it is a sustainable opportunity that should not be missed!