Menace of Disposal of Cigarette Butts an

Q. Why in News

Recently, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to lay down guidelines pertaining to disposal of cigarette and beedi butts within three months.

NGT held that tobacco is undoubtedly harmful and it is mainly concerned with the manner of disposal of cigarette and beedi butts.

Q. What is the issue? 

• An NGO ‘Doctors for You’ sought instructions to regulate the disposal of cigarette and beedi butts apart from prohibiting the consumption of tobacco in public places.
• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare highlighted that cigarette and beedi butts are not biodegradable but the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change noted that these are not listed as hazardous.

Q. What are observations of CPCB?

• A report by CPCB highlighted that the analysis of the cigarette and beedi butts reflects that their concentrations detected will not be toxic to humans and the environment.
• Cellulose acetate is a major component (95%) of the cigarette butts along with the wrapping paper and rayon and its degradation studies show that it will persist for a longer duration.
• However, the toxicity data for cellulose acetate is not available yet.

Q.What are observations of environmentalists and scientists in this?

• A study conducted by the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR) approves the CPCB report and holds that the concentration of various parameters analysed is lower than the prescribed limits and will not be toxic.
• It added that natural environmental conditions and laboratory stimulating conditions would be required to conclude the safety or toxicity of cigarette butts to further correlate with human and environmental health risk assessment.

Q. What can be some solutions?

• An inter-ministerial or departmental committee should be constituted to consult at the national level for conducting an impact study of discarded cigarette and beedi butts and spitting of tobacco products in public places.
• Recycling of cellulose acetate after recovery from cigarette butts may be an immediate solution to the problem.
• There is a need for more studies and research so that degradation and safety data can be generated which would be helpful in forming guidelines.