A Provincial Deposit – Return Program for Cigarettes A well structured program can protect the environment and overcome the deficiencies of public ashtray programs. Cigarette butts are the leading source of litter, both by number and weight, both in Canada and worldwide, where billions are littered daily. They are unsightly, non-biodegradable and toxic to the environment. They are increasing getting the attention that they deserve as an environmental concern. Awareness

Cigarette butts are by far Canada's leading form of litter. Worldwide, trillions are littered annually. Beyond being unsightly, non-biodegradable and toxic to marine and terrestrial life, they are costly to clean up, and a leading cause of both structure and forest fires. Although increasingly getting the attention that they deserve as an environmental concern, little thought has been given to them in the context of Canada's recently-proposed single-use plastics ban.