A big part of our mission is cleaning up the watershed. We are sometimes asked why we are cleaning up parks and streets, and not just the river and the boat launches. All pollution finds its way to our river, whether through storm drains, underground water, or any other way.

Let’s take cigarette butts, one of the most common items we find during cleanups. We have asked folks why they throw their butts on the ground, and most are under the mistaken impression that the butts are made of paper and will quickly break down. If you’ve ever participated in a cleanup, you know that can’t be true.

Cigarette butts are made up of mostly plastic! They can take a decade to degrade, and while they do, they release arsenic, lead, and nicotine into the environment–chemicals that will continue to poison our soil and water long after that butt is gone. This kind of litter is not only unsightly (because again, it doesn’t break down quickly), it actually reduces plant germination, growth, and root length. As a matter of fact, a plant that has cigarette butt litter near it can have roots that are more than 50% shorter than a healthy plant, increasing the possibility of plant death and soil erosion.

Please educate the smokers in your lives who think that their butts are fine being chucked onto roads, sidewalks, yards, and even into the river itself. The butts are not made of paper and will poison the land and water long after the person who littered is gone.

To participate in one of our cleanups, visit our Events Page.