THE BUTT RUSH MOVEMENT
Though the toxic nature of chemicals in tobacco products is well-established, a lesser-known fact is the pollution generated by the filters or cigarette butts, which are discarded everywhere by smokers. Nirit Datta, IT professional-turnedenvironmentalist and founder-member of India’s first Butt Rush Movement to raise awareness about the environmental impact of cigarette filters, explains, “Contrary to the common notion that these butts are made of paper or cotton, they’re made of plastic fibres. The butts have metal residues and other toxic chemical contaminants too. All these enter waterbodies and seep into the soil, causing micro plastic and chemical pollution. As a result, marine ecology, including fish and other micro- and macro-organisms, are destroyed.”
Talking about the findings of the Butt Rush Movement, which he started in April 2021, Nirit says, “It is a day-long marathon to collect discarded cigarette butts from public areas. We have so far organized 12 marathons in various cities of India, with over 640 volunteers, to raise awareness of the damage caused by cigarette butts and draw up a sustainable and viable model for governments and corporate houses to minimise cigaretterelated pollution. We have collected nearly six lakh cigarette butts. The maximum number of cigarette filters were found in corporate areas, party and pub zones, beaches and tourist places, engineering and management colleges, government offices and even hospital premises. We are also assessing the environmental impact after having interacted with 1,200 smokers on their habits.”
Apart from creating more awareness among public, government and corporate sectors, providing specialized bins to dispose of the butts and scientifically and ethically recycle the filters is need of the hour, adds Nirit.