The latest Clean Up Australia Litter Report FY25 confirms that cigarette butts have overtaken soft plastics to become the most littered item in the country, representing nearly a quarter of all waste. Concurrently, the presence of disposable vapes in litter has risen sharply, appearing at 33.9% of surveyed sites, signalling a growing environmental crisis driven by nicotine products.
Key Takeaways:
- Top Offender: Cigarette butts account for 23.6% of all litter.
- Plastic Dominance: Plastics comprise 80.8% of total waste found.
- Vape Increase: Vape litter sites increased by 23.5% over three years.
- Reform Needed: Calls for mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes.
Clean Up Australia has released its FY25 Litter Report, revealing a troubling shift in the nation's waste landscape where nicotine products are increasingly dominating environmental pollution. This development occurs amidst a broader plastic crisis, directly resulting in calls for urgent packaging reforms and better disposal solutions for toxic items like vapes.
Cigarette Butts: The New Number One
For the first time in recent years, cigarette butts have surged past soft plastic wrappers to claim the top spot as Australia's most littered individual item. Often misunderstood as biodegradable, these butts are made of cellulose acetate—a type of plastic that can take decades to decompose.
Pip Kiernan, Chair of Clean Up Australia, expressed concern over the sheer volume: "It is troubling to see that cigarette butts now represent nearly a quarter of all litter collected, with an estimated 8.9 billion butts littered in Australia every year."
The Growing Threat of Vape Waste
Alongside traditional tobacco, the environmental footprint of vaping is expanding rapidly. The report highlights a significant upward trend in e-cigarette waste.
| Metric | FY25 Findings | Environmental Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Prevalence | Found at 33.9% of surveyed sites | Widespread distribution in parks and streets. |
| Growth Rate | 23.5% increase in sites over 3 years | Rapidly escalating pollution source. |
| Hazards | Batteries, residual nicotine, heavy metals | Fire risks in bins; toxic leaching into soil/water. |
Systemic Plastic Addiction
The report underscores that Australia cannot simply recycle its way out of the plastic problem. Plastics represented a staggering 80.8% of all counted litter. Since 2000, the nation's plastic consumption has more than doubled, far outstripping population growth.
Kiernan advocates for systemic change: "We strongly support the implementation of a mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for packaging... which would ensure producers and manufacturers are responsible for the packaging they place on the market."
Clean Up Australia's Litter Report FY25 and national and state-based fact sheets can be viewed HERE.
Vape Lifestyle & Advocacy Blogger
Chloe Evans, widely known as "CloudChaser Chloe," is a prominent voice in the global vaping community, celebrated for her vibrant personality and keen focus on the lifestyle aspects of vaping. Based in the creative hub of Portland, Oregon, Chloe's content blends fashion, art, and harm reduction, offering a fresh perspective on the vaping world. She aims to demystify vaping for adult consumers and challenge outdated perceptions, promoting a responsible and enjoyable experience.