Monday, August 25, 2008

Nasty butts

Why is it considered okay for smokers to chuck their butts on the ground? Is that not littering?? Contrary to what some people may think, cigarette filters are not biodegradable, actually they take quite a long time to decompose. 
And then there are those smokers who chuck still-burning cigarettes on the ground. Not only are you too lazy to walk to a bin and dispose of it, but you're too lazy to put it out? Wow...

In Japan, land of cleanliness and civilization, all smokers carry these around. They are personal, portable ashtrays (keitai haizara). Brilliant!

14 comments:

erin said...

I know...why don't people consider cig butts litter?! I read that Florence imposed new rules against this recently, so now there are heavy fines on throwing these things on the ground! (we'll see if it's enforced ;/)

Leanne was in Italy now in Australia said...

I hear you...I hear you...I just wish the Romanian workers upstaris could read what you have to say!

Emmina said...

I'm an occasional smoker, and have always had a big problem with throwing the butt on the ground. I will pretty much cross the autostrada to get to an ashtray if I have to but unfortunately I find that often there is absolutely NOWHERE to put the thing. I know it's a bad habit and not to be encouraged, but since there are so many smokers in Italy, I think they should be a bit more 'attrezzati' and provide ashtrays on all public bins, not just some....

Romerican said...

Erin- Italy loves making new rules & laws but as we all know, it's very unlikely that they even a third of them get enforced.

Leanne- Are you still being showered with butts? Oh no!!!

Emmina- Since I'm not a smoker, I never noticed that. BUT most cities are lacking regular garbage bins in strategic places. I usually end up carrying my trash around till I come upon a bin. You might want to look into one of those cute portable Japanese ashtrays- they come in all shapes & sizes =)

Natalie said...

As someone who has lived in both Italy and Japan, I laughed at this post! There is a major butt problem in Italy, isn't there? Especially now that they can't smoke in any public buildings. Poor things.

Tui Snider said...

When I was a kid, if I saw someone toss down a cigarette butt I'd pick it up and kindly say, "Hey, you dropped something," with the sweetest smile on my face that I could muster as I handed it back to them. The people were flustered, of course, and nearly always thanked me. Ah, the things you can get away with when you are 12-yrs-old! ~Tui

Monika said...

I think this is the most filthiest habit the Italians have! I sometimes think Florence is one big ashtray. If you did this in Australia, someone would stop you in the street and tell you not to litter.

*Belgian said...

Indeed one of the most disgusting habits and esp in Rome where they all get stuck inbetween the cobblestones. I also hate it when people just trash paper out of their cars!

Romerican said...

Tui- maybe the city should hire a troop of kids to go around and "remind" people not to litter! ;)

Monika- Florence is plagued by this too? It always seems so much cleaner than Rome, but I guess the same bad habits are found nationwide.

Belgian- Yep, it's a nation of litterbugs. If they would enforce the no litter rule (which DOES exist here), the city would make heaps of money from fines and people would stop being such slobs...

Romerican said...

natalie- You've lived in Japan? LUCKY YOU! It must be twice as shocking for you here to see such a lack of civic etiquette.

Anonymous said...

Amen....cigarette butts and gum blobs (i hate both) and it should all be considered littering!

don't you love walking down italian streets only to breathe in exhaust and second hand smoke. yuck!!!!

Nancy - Girl in Giro said...

I was just sitting on the beach today, in mezzo of all the cigarette butts. Gross. It goes hand in hand with all the littering and the general disrespect of public places in this country. ugh.

Delina said...

I hate to see them on on the beach too (sure there's a joke to be made about butts here). Smokers seem to think it's ok to throw them into the sand. Yuck.

Piccola said...

I remember the first time I went to Rome. There was a sign at the check-in desk of my hotel that said, "Vietato fumare" and the receptionist lady was puffing away. I don't understand how people can litter such a beautiful country filled with so many treasures. Don't they care at all?? Littering is serious here in Portland.