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Tipping in Verden: Why cleanliness is becoming more and more of a problem!
Verden is fighting against cigarette waste: the focus is on new trash cans and education on environmentally friendly disposal.
Tipping in Verden: Why cleanliness is becoming more and more of a problem!
In Cologne, as in many other cities, the situation regarding cigarette butts is anything but perfect. You can often see the small remains of smokers not only on the sidewalks, but now also right next to the trash cans. A problem that is also observed in Verden, where, according to kreiszeitung.de, there are special compartments in trash cans for this waste. Rainer Kamermann from the 5 Streets & Urban Green Department makes it clear that throwing away garbage, including cigarettes, is not only unhygienic, but also forbidden.
In many cities the picture is similarly sad: Cigarettes are the most frequently thrown away item in public spaces. According to estimates, around two thirds of smoked cigarettes end up in nature, which, according to a study by [tagesschau.de](https://www.tagesschau.de/wissen/forschung/zigarettenstummel-umwelt Schaden-100.html), leads to alarming levels of pollution. Around 5.6 trillion cigarettes are smoked every year, and the majority of the remaining butts are simply thrown on the ground.
The dangers of cigarette butts
But it's not just the sight of the cigarette butts left behind that's a problem. These small pieces of “garbage” contain a variety of toxic substances, including nicotine, arsenic and heavy metals such as lead or copper. An analysis by zdfheute.de shows that cigarette filters pose a serious threat to the environment and that chemical residues can enter the groundwater via rain. Just 30 minutes of rain can wash out half of the nicotine from a cigarette filter, not only poisoning animals but also endangering the quality of our drinking water.
Cigarette butts not only harm aquatic life, but also plant life. The extent of the threat to land animals and plants has not yet been fully understood, but we already know that they promote the growth of harmful blue-green algae in water.
Current measures and required changes
Despite the fact that public places such as train stations are equipped with floor ashtrays, there has been no improvement in many areas. In Verden, especially around the station building, these are often overcrowded despite their presence and continue to attract rubbish. The inhibitions about throwing away rubbish decrease in dirty areas, as is the case on Bäckerstrasse, for example.
Some cities are even using fines to get people to change their minds, such as in Berlin, where a fine of 120 euros was introduced for throwing away cigarettes. However, this has not yet brought any significant improvement. In addition, the “Cigarette Deposit Initiative” proposes a deposit system to address the disposal problem.
Cigarette butts are not only a nuisance, but also carcinogenic and pose a significant threat to our environment. The BUND's recommendations are clear: Cigarette manufacturers should support campaigns to raise awareness of the environmental damage and be involved in the implementation of locking systems for ashtrays on public trash cans. Only through joint efforts can we hope that our cities will become more beautiful and cleaner again.