Butt It Matters

08/19/2026

No experience or tools necessary. Found a bag. Fill the bag. It turns outs even the experienced can make mistakes. When I left the ice bag containing debris that I picked up unattended to collect more the seagulls apparently thought it was a snack and scattered its contents everywhere. Repeated my actions 🤨 I should have known. Even the smallest amount 😂

07/16/2026

PLEASE SHARE FOR AWARENESS PURPOSES I had planned a simple walk along the beach, but upon finding a cup and a bunch of plastic I filled it and managed to clean just 50 feet of Rhode Island’s 400 miles of tide line within 20 minutes. Can you image what could be out there. Even the smallest effort makes a big difference. What are the harmful effects of plastic pollution on humans if not picked up in a timely manner.
Studies have found that plastic products and their waste can be toxic to humans, marine and wildlife. They enter and potentially harm the body through food, water, and skin contact. Some chemicals used in plastic manufacturing are labeled priority pollutants by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Plastic is not biodegradable. Instead of breaking down completely, it forms smaller pieces called microplastics, which can last on Earth for centuries. Manufacturers have produced “biodegradable plastic” that can break down, but only through industrial composting, which is not common in the U.S. Plastic waste affects many areas of the natural environment, especially the oceans and the biodiversity of its ecosystems The causes and effects of plastic pollution are truly worldwide. The slow motion part of this reel shows one of 5 I found. Do you know what it is? Source: britannica.com/science/plastic-pollution

06/30/2026

Do you know the likely destination of these without receptacles? This program’s awareness efforts over four years have been productive. We acknowledge the contributions of participating establishments in facilitating receptacle installation and fostering responsible waste disposal habits, as well as the smokers who have made effective use of them. It’s our belief that these collective efforts have factored into the State of Rhode Island’s approval of receptacles at Narragansett State Pier 5, an area that previously faced challenges over the years with cigarette litter. The impact achieved in a short timeframe is impressive. For those new to this cause, prior posts outline the environmental rationale behind this initiative. Given the noted decline in cigarette litter in the Keep America Beautiful® 2026 national litter study, continued efforts remain essential. Unite with us to be part of the solution, weather chosen to use the receptacles, volunteering, or donating to our community mission. (Link in our bio) Thank you to all the volunteers and to our supporters for helping to keep our community cigarette litter free!! participates O’Neil’s Package Store
Pelly’s Place
Leo's Pizza King of Pizza RI
Coast Guard House
Mariner Grille
Mews Tavern
Belmont Market
Pier Marketplace
T's Restaurant
TwoTen Oyster Bar & Grill
The Beach Rose Cafe
The Breachway Grill
The Bike Stop Cafe TetraHydro Club Rhode Island DEM(Narragansett State Pier 5)

06/16/2026

A small act of kindness for . Butts and balloons do not belong on our shorelines. We have the necessary facilities and yet some still fail. 🤜🚬🤛🤜🎈🤛. Please dispose of all your trash properly for the sake of every living thing on this . Wait till the end!!

06/03/2026

It’s been three weeks since the cigarette receptacles were installed and the cleanup effort was undertaken with students from the Prout School. This past Friday we did our first clean out and collected almost 100 cigarette butts (filters made of plastic) from the receptacles and 19 from the ground, in addition to a small amount of trash and a pair of shorts in the Pier alone. Considering the unfavorable weather leading up to the rainy Memorial Day weekend, not many folk have been out and about yet, But this is a great beginning. It was also a valuable experience to meet and discuss the program with many interested individuals, and we even had opportunities to speak with smokers, showcasing the receptacles, explaining, and providing pocket ashtrays to those who wanted them and were unfamiliar with such items until now. Thank you to everyone who has made use of the receptacles and the inquiries so far. Till next time, have a great day and remember small action add up to make a big impact!!🤜🚬🤛

05/28/2026

Did you know that balloons can be hazardous? Notably, ingestion of balloon fragments can cause starvation and internal injuries in animals like sea turtles and birds that mistake them for food. Entanglements also pose a threat, as wildlife can become trapped by balloon ribbons and rendered unable to eat or defend themselves. Furthermore, testing has revealed that numerous consumer balloon packs contain carcinogenic chemical compounds in excess of safe toy limits. The environmental impact of released balloons is also significant, as they drift into oceans and forests, where wildlife mistakes them for food, leading to digestive tract blockages and starvation. In Rhode Island, it is illegal to intentionally release, or organize the simultaneous release of, 10 or more balloons. Town-specific rules can be stricter than the state law. For example, New Shoreham (Block Island) enforces a total ban on the sale, use, and distribution of all balloons on the island. Just one released is a negative impact. The last picture shows a piece of plastic I retrieved near this balloon, and it appears to have been bitten thousands of times. No Butts about it, this is just one reason why we contribute.

05/27/2026

WAY TO GO Have you every heard of a generational ban on ci******es and to***co product sales yet? The Maldives became the first country in the world to impose a generational smoking ban, barring anyone born after Jan. 1, 2007, from ever smoking, purchasing or using to***co

05/20/2026

Have you heard of generational ban on smoking yet? Way to go
Will this also help with the litter?
The Maldives became the first country in the world to impose a generational smoking ban, barring anyone born after Jan. 1, 2007, from ever smoking, purchasing or using to***co.

A new to***co policy in Northampton will effectively create a “ni****ne-free generation”

05/17/2026

We would like to welcome as the newest participants in our community cigarette litter prevention recycling program. By joining this initiative, they are contributing to a nationwide effort to address the substantial problem of cigarette litter and raise awareness about the importance of proper cigarette butt disposal in public areas including sandy beaches and waterways. Our gratitude extends to Melanie for connecting us with from The meeting was a pleasure, and we are looking forward to exploring ways to collaborate on reducing waste and promoting environmental protection. We also had the opportunity to discuss our portable pocket ashtrays and temporary cigarette pouches, which are designed to encourage responsible disposal practices. Thank you to Tetrahydroclub for their dedication to preserving the environment one cigarette butt at a time!!

05/13/2026

Did you know?

Litter study just dropped!! Read more. 🤜🚬🤛///♻️🚬💚

🎉 BIG NEWS: Our 2026 National Litter Study is here!

After months of research, we’re thrilled to release the most comprehensive data on litter in America—and the findings are incredibly encouraging.

Litter across U.S. roadways and waterways is down 34% since 2020. Every American’s share dropped from 152 pieces to 96. This is proof that when communities work together, real change happens.

But our work is far from done—35 billion pieces of litter remain. The study shows us exactly where we need to focus next, and with America’s 250th birthday approaching, there has never been a better time to finish what we started.

📊 Dive into the data and discover what’s working across the country.

Read the full 2026 National Litter Study now: https://kab.org/litter/litter-study/