Save the Fish
Cigarette butt: how long does it take to break down in the sea?
Estimated time to break down in the sea: > 10 years. Source: U.S. National Park Service (nps.gov). This figure comes from a guide about litter on land. In the sea, the toxic leak is the bigger problem.
Cigarette butt: why is it harmful to the sea?
Leaches nicotine, arsenic and heavy metals; one smoked butt per litre of water killed half the test fish in 96 hours.
Cigarette butt: does it really disappear?
Not quickly. The filter is a plastic, not cotton: it lasts for years and leaks toxic chemicals the whole time.
Cigarette butt: how harmful is it compared with other trash?
Harm score 7 out of 10: lasts 2/4, toxic 3/3, wildlife 2/3. It ranks 15 of 31 on our list. This score is our own simple scale for comparing items in the game. It is not an official index.
Cigarette butt: what is it made of?
Material: Cellulose acetate, a plastic. A typical one is about 3.5 cm long and weighs about 0.3 g.
Cigarette butt: what can I do?
Put butts in a bin or a pocket ashtray, never on the ground or down a drain.
Cigarette butt: what lasts longer, and what breaks down sooner?
Lasts longer: Pencil, Ice cream stick, Candy wrapper. Breaks down sooner: Plywood, Balloon, Wool sock.
Cigarette butt: where does this figure come from?
From “Do I Recycle or Upcycle?”, U.S. National Park Service, First State National Historical Park (Junior Ranger Online). Checked on 2026-10-04.
The source says“where they will stay for over 10 years”The source's limits (in English): Educational estimates for litter on land, written for children.