News
Cigarette butts must not be left out of Scotland’s plastics debate any longer, say charities
Marine Conservation Society and ASH Scotland tell Cabinet Secretary to put filters alongside straws and cups.
Two Scottish charities have written to the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, Roseanna Cunningham MSP, asking her to include cigarette filters, alongside plastic straws and single-use coffee cups, in her brief to the Scottish Government Advisory Expert Panel on Environmental Charging and Other Measures which advises on sustainable changes in consumer and producer behaviour.
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS), based in Edinburgh and ASH Scotland – the charity that takes action to reduce the harm caused by tobacco – say that with cigarette butts clearly identified as one of the key components of single-use marine litter, it is hard to see how a credible action plan to reduce single-use plastic waste in our oceans could possibly exclude them.
Last year’s MCS-organised Great British Beach Clean saw volunteers record over 1,500 cigarette stubs on the 135 Scottish beaches they cleaned and surveyed in just one weekend, whilst globally a staggering 2,412,151 were recorded by volunteers on the Saturday of the International Coastal Clean-up last September.
In their joint letter to the Cabinet Secretary, MCS and ASH Scotland, said almost all of the four billion cigarette butts discarded each year in Scotland are made of a cellulose acetate plastic. They state: ‘Whilst this form of plastic does degrade in certain conditions, it can take up to 12 years, breaking down into progressively smaller pieces while at the same time leaching out thousands of chemicals, many of which are toxic to marine life.’
The letter concludes: ‘We believe that plastic cigarette filters should be categorised alongside plastic cotton-bud stems, straws and cups as optional consumer choices, and be the subject of appropriate regulatory action. Yet cigarette filters have been a neglected element of the plastics debate.
‘The European Union, through the Single Use Plastics Directive (“Reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment”), has recognised cigarette butts as one of the top 10 most commonly found items on our beaches. However, unlike some other single use plastic items which have been subject to a ban or reduction, cigarettes will only be subject to an Extended Producer Responsibility scheme which will contribute to covering clean-up costs.’
John Watson, Deputy Chief Executive ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) Scotland, said: “Interestingly the tobacco industry suggests that filters should be not be included in current considerations because they “are not made of a petrochemical plastic”. It seems to me that the question is not over where a product comes from, but where it ends up and what harm it causes when it gets there. This would include the world’s oceans, where cigarette butts release toxins and could be ingested by wildlife.”
Catherine Gemmell, MCS Scotland Conservation Officer, said: “To stop the plastic tide for good we need radical change at every level – yes we need those who use cigarettes to dispose of them properly, but can’t we also have action at the top of the supply chain? Do they have to be made of plastic in the first place?
“If the Expert Panel can investigate measures to change or reduce the amount of plastic entering our oceans from cigarette filters and then have the Scottish Government lead the way in implementing them, we will have taken a massive step towards the plastic free seas Scotland deserves.”
Find out more at www.mcsuk.org.
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Renowned anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from custody in Greenland after spending five months in detention. Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected Japan’s request for his extradition, citing insufficient guarantees that his time already served in custody would be credited against any potential sentence.
The 74-year-old Canadian-American was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, when his ship docked to refuel. His arrest was based on a 2012 Japanese warrant related to a 2010 encounter in Antarctic waters. Japan alleged Watson obstructed operations and caused damage to a whaling research ship during efforts to disrupt illegal whaling. Watson has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his commitment to marine conservation.
Denmark, which oversees extradition matters for Greenland, concluded that while the legal conditions for extradition were met, the lack of assurances from Japan regarding time-served credit made extradition untenable.
In a video shared by his foundation, Watson expressed gratitude and relief, saying, “After five months, it’s good to be out… and good to know they’re not sending me to Japan.” He added that the most difficult part of his time in custody was being separated from his two young sons.
Watson is a pioneering figure in marine conservation, known for founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022 after decades of activism with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His bold efforts to defend marine life have earned him widespread support, including from celebrities and conservationists. His work has also been featured in the acclaimed reality TV series Whale Wars.
Watson’s lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, praised the decision, stating, “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.” He added that Watson is eager to reunite with his family and continue his vital work.
The arrest occurred while Watson’s vessel, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with a team of 26 volunteers to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. His foundation described the arrest as politically motivated and emphasized that Watson’s actions were focused on ending illegal whaling practices.
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, asserting that whale meat is a cultural tradition. Conservationists, however, continue to challenge these practices, highlighting their impact on marine ecosystems.
Despite the challenges, Watson remains steadfast in his mission to protect marine life and bring attention to whaling practices. His dedication to ocean conservation has made him a globally respected advocate for the environment.
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