Why is the dropping of cigarette ends now a problem?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.express.co...roblem-survey-reveals

Why has the dropping of cigarette ends suddenly become a problem?

Years ago when almost every adult smoked, I can never remember such a problem, could it be that in those days the streets were regularly swept clean, by a man with a hand cart and brush.

[Barmaid]

In my view the dropping of cigarette ends has always been a problem its just more prevalent now since smoking indoors was banned. But FAR worse than cigarette ends (and yes, I smoke, although I don't - and never have - dropped my butts) is CHEWING GUM!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am SICK to death of getting chewing gum on my shoes, not noticing and then getting it on my car carpet. And you only have to look at pavements to see those grey, white blobs. Drives me mad.

[Haggisdj]

I've noticed that a lot more smokers throw their cigarette butts on the ground without even stubbing them out/standing on them these days.

The one thing that does p me off is when someone in the car in front at the traffic lights opens a door and either drops their McDonald's bag on the road or empties their ashtray onto the road!!!

[daffy654]

My next door neighbours regularly empty their car ashtray onto the pavement outside our house,never outside ther own,I have a suspicion they are trying to get us fined for it.They also leave empty take-away wrappings on our doorstep.

[anotheoldgit]

Yes but nobody has really answered my point.

When nearly everyone smoked one would;d think that the streets would have been knee deep in cigarette ends and empty cigarette packets, but they never were.

I am sure we were never "goody 2 shoes" and took them home with us, and I can never remember there being any litter bins.

And what about all the gum our American cousins threw down.

[daffy654]

It is because of the smoking ban AOG. People are being forced to smoke outdoors where there aren't any ashtrays,which is why I posted links to sites that sell pocket ashtrays.

[cazzz1975]

maybe its more noticable now, maybe we are more educated than previous generations about harmful substances, cigarette butts and chewing gum are probably on a par with each other in terms of popularity with the general public, Outside many office buildings there are some massive piles of cigarette ends which I am sure doesnt do much for the companies image.

[Sqad]

What difference does it make, the UK is a filthy place anyway.

Sorry........the UK is NOT a filthy place, it is just the people that live in it.

[Gromit]

AOG

I imagine the plastic (non biodegradable) filters are a relatively recent idea. I suppose the times you remember had paper/cotton filters that did quickly biodegrade.

[Sqad]

Zeuhl....good game though eh?

[jno]

fewer people then so fewer cigarette butts?

[madmaggot]

I think there is a two part answer to this, oldgit.
1. Filter fags are a relatively new thing; the filters don't de-compose in the same way that a paper + tobacco butt would.
2. My dad used to smoke and he would never drop his butt ends, even when we were on a long country walk, he always stubbed them out and put them back into the pack. Ergo, people generally drop litter far more than they ever used to.

[rov1200]

Its because we would rather pay people to sit on their rses rather than get then to do useful work.

[madmaggot]

Sqad, I have to agree that a lot of the british are filthy people. However, I have found the same to be true of the spanish and greeks as well.
IMO litter is a direct result of 'not being brought up properly'! If either of my parents had seen me dropping litter I would have had an ear bashing and been made to clear up all and any litter in the area! Kids just take their lead from their parents and todays parents are too busy trying to be their kids friend rather than parenting them.

[Quinlad]

The answer that AOG is groping for is something along the lines of:

People were more considerate in the olden days. These days society has broken down, civic pride has diminished and individual responsibility is a thing of the past. The solution: national service, corporal punishment and the end to immigration.

[madmaggot]

Perhaps the answer is to wipe out the disgusting habit ~ no fags = no butts!
All that has to be tackled then is:
take away wrappings / leftovers
crisp packets
chewing gum
sweet wrappers
etc, etc, etc.

[bentaxle]

Some of the old boys would save them and then use them in their pipes when times got hard ,in the fishing industry