Čisteći medvjedići collect 8,500 cigarette butts in Nova Kapela

The environmental organization Čisteći medvjedići and RokOtok have collected over 400,000 cigarette butts through their ‘Baci čik u koš’ (Throw the butt in the bin) campaign. During a recent cleanup in Nova Kapela on August 22, 23 participants—mostly children of preschool and primary school age—collected 8,500 cigarette butts, setting a local record for waste found.

Campaign founder Perica Štefan stated that the scale of the problem necessitates the introduction of clear and enforceable penalties for littering. The organization is calling on the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition and local governments to implement such measures.

Cigarette butts pose a significant threat to ecosystems as they release harmful substances into soil and water. Contrary to common belief, they are difficult to decompose because the filters contain plastic in the form of cellulose acetate, meaning they should be disposed of in mixed municipal waste rather than the environment.