Cigarette butt finished? Stub it out. Throw it in. 

The municipality of Moerdijk has launched the campaign“Cigarette butt finished? Stomp it out. Throw it away.”in downtown Zevenbergen. Through this campaign, the municipality—in collaboration with local businesses, residents, and the IVN (Institute for Nature Conservation Education)—aims to prevent cigarette butts from ending up on the street or in the water.  

Cigarette Butt Policy 

The campaign focuses on two things: raising awareness and making it easier to practice the right behavior—namely, throwing cigarette butts in the trash can. Many people are unaware that a properly extinguished cigarette butt can simply be disposed of in a trash can. That’s why trash cans in the city center are equipped with metal extinguishing plates and eye-catching stickers. These help remind smokers of the correct procedure: extinguish first, then dispose of. 

In addition, extra resources are being deployed in various locations, such as a wrapped trash can and signs displaying the campaign message.  

Why this campaign? 

Cigarette butts may seem small and harmless, but they are not. Filters are mostly made of plastic and do not break down. Instead, they disintegrate into microplastics that end up in the soil and water. Cigarette butts also contain harmful substances that pollute the environment and can enter the food chain.  

There are a relatively large number of cigarette butts on the streets around the Zevenbergen harbor. That is why this particular location was chosen to launch the initiative. The cigarette butt initiative will begin as a pilot project in downtown Zevenbergen. Based on the results, a decision will be made on whether and how to expand the campaign throughout the municipality.

Collaboration within the campaign

The campaign was developed in collaboration with IVN and is widely supported by local partners. Business owners in the city center, climate mayors, and engaged residents are actively contributing ideas and helping with its implementation. 

This approach is part of the joint effort within the Clean Meuse Delta initiative and is financially supported by the European Treasure project and the province of North Brabant.  

Want to learn more about the “Cigarette butt? Put it out. Throw it away.” campaign? Go to:This Is How We Do It – Municipality of Moerdijk (opens in a new tab)