26 September
A Greens motion calling on the Malinauskas Government to hold the tobacco industry accountable for cigarette butt waste and raise the issue at the next meeting of National Environment Ministers passed the Upper House this afternoon with the Government’s support.
“Cigarette butts are harmful to the environment and hazardous to our health. It’s time for big corporations like tobacco companies to be taken to task for the harm they are causing”, said Greens SA Spokesperson for Waste and the Circular Economy Robert Simms MLC.
“This is an opportunity for South Australia to further cement our place as a leader in waste reduction. This motion recognises the significant harm caused by cigarette butt waste and calls on the Malinauskas Government to do what it can to hold the tobacco industry to account for this."
"I hope the Environment Minister, Deputy Premier Susan Close raises this issue with her national colleagues as a matter of priority, so that we can see coordinated action on this issue."
Mr Simms has also introduced a Private Member’s Bill that would require cigarette companies to establish a deposit scheme for cigarette butt waste (similar to the Container Deposit Scheme that relates to cans and bottles) to ensure that their waste is disposed of appropriately.
Of the 17.75 billion cigarettes estimated to be consumed in Australia each year, between 30-75% end up as litter. The cost of cleaning up tobacco-related litter in Australia has been estimated at $73 million per year.