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Manila Bulletin devider Environment and Sustainability devider Bratislava to build roads made from cigarette butts

Bratislava to build roads made from cigarette butts

Helping the environment can take many forms

Published Feb 16, 2024 08:33 am

It's not breaking news that cigarettes pose health hazards, but did you know tobacco products poison the planet? 

The latest World Health Organization report reveals that a staggering 4.5 trillion cigarette filters annually pollute the planet, containing microplastics and ranking as the "second-highest form of plastic pollution worldwide."

To combat tobacco's environmental threats, Bratislava, Slovakia's capital, plans to recycle cigarette butts into special fibers for asphalt road construction. 

Asphalt, known for its durability, provides a resilient surface for pavement building — capable of withstanding vehicle weight for years. 

To drive the initiative, the city's waste management firm, Odvoz a Likvidacia Odpadu (OLO), is set to place customized containers for discarded cigarettes at public events. 

“If visitors to a festival, run, market, or other urban event throw cigarette butts into a special container, they will contribute not only to a cleaner environment but to the material recovery of this type of waste,” said OLO Circular Economy Manager Martina Cechova. 

In partnership with EcoButt and SPAK-EKO, Slovakia’s capital has also designed collection bins to accommodate both traditional cigarette filters and modern heated tobacco devices, commonly known as e-cigarettes. 

This year in Bratislava, and hopefully soon in other cities, tossing cigarette butts into special bins transcends mere waste disposal, demonstrating that helping the environment can take many simple yet impactful forms.

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