Public bodyCompletedSource reductionAwareness

Cigarette butt-free beaches

A Provincial Governorate · Türkiye · 2024–2025

Summary

Pocket ashtrays handed out through beach operators, collection points at beach entrances and a season-long information campaign cut cigarette butt litter in the sand at source.

Goal

Reduce the density of cigarette butts in beach sand by a measurable amount within one season.

Target group

Beach operators, seasonal staff and day visitors.

How it was done

01BaselineButts per square metre were counted on 40 beaches at the start of the season and recorded as the baseline.
02Roll-outCollection points were installed at beach entrances, pocket ashtrays distributed to operators and staff given a short briefing.
03MonitoringMonthly counts, an end-of-season comparison report and disposal records from a licensed facility.

Results achieved

Butt density in beach sand fell clearly against the baseline by the end of the season.
All participating beach operators decided to keep the collection points and ashtrays.
The model was turned into a written guide for beach operators in neighbouring districts.

Measurable outputs

40beaches covered

1.2 millionbutts collected

38%reduction in butt density

Climate relevance

Cigarette filters are cellulose acetate, a plastic; keeping them out of the sand stops microplastic reaching the seagrass meadows and coastal wetlands that store carbon along this shore. Preventing the litter at source also reduces the repeated mechanical beach cleaning that would otherwise be needed.

Conditions for replication

Works where beach operators are licensed and can be reached through a single authority, and where a baseline count is taken before the season opens. A licensed disposal route for the collected waste has to be in place first.