PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – Tobacco Free Florida in Pinellas County will participate in the annual Coastal Cleanup Event on Saturday, September 21st, 2024. Volunteers will gather at Chicago Jaqx Pizza in Indian Rocks Beach at 11 a.m. to help clean up beaches and raise awareness about the environmental damage caused by cigarette butts.
Local SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco) members will join Tobacco Free Florida personnel in the cleanup effort. This event highlights the ongoing commitment to tobacco awareness and prevention in Florida.
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“Many people mistakenly believe cigarettes are biodegradable, and they may not think of the damages to our beaches and parks they are doing with this waste,” said Laura Corbin, Bureau Chief for Tobacco Free Florida. “We know cigarettes are harmful to anyone who uses them, but this cleanup is to bring attention to the fact that they also hurt our beautiful beaches, parks, and other shared spaces.”
Cigarette butts, the most commonly littered item globally, release microplastics and harmful chemicals into the environment. They can also be deadly to animals and trigger relapse in those trying to quit smoking.
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Over 75 municipalities in Florida have passed ordinances restricting smoking in parks and beaches since July 2022.
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