Legal and public policy overview related to the disposal of cigarette butts

The improper disposal of cigarette butts is a global environmental and public health issue, with approximately 4.5 trillion units discarded every year. In Brazil, the annual production of around 95 million cigarettes exacerbates this environmental harm. Cigarette butts contain filters made of cellulose acetate, which is a slow degrading a plastic, as well as toxic substances, such as nicotine, heavy metals, and hydrocarbons, which can contaminate soil and water bodies. Despite this composition, there are both regulatory and technical challenges in formally recognizing cigarette butts as hazardous waste, which limits the implementation of more effective regulatory measures. The present study offers a literature review and documental analysis to examine the regulatory landscape with regards to the management of these waste materials. The results reveal a regulatory gap in Brazil concerning the disposal of cigarette butts, in contrast with the European Union, which has made progress in this regard. The absence of specific legislation, combined with low public awareness and weak enforcement, hampers efforts to address the problem. There is a need for the development of integrated public policies based on shared responsibility among the government, industry, and civil society to ensure the environmentally sound management of cigarette butts as urban solid waste.