The Zero Waste Indonesia Alliance (AZWI) together with Lentera Anak and Nexus3 Foundation held a webinar entitled “The Impact of Cigarette Plastic Filters on Health and the Environment”. This activity discusses the emergencies of cigarette butt waste, which has been less of a concern in the public domain.
The webinar was attended by environmental experts, including Nexus3 Foundation Senior Advisor Yuyun Ismawati, Jalal from the National Committee for Tobacco Control, and Chairperson of the Lentera Anak Foundation Lisda Sundara. The webinar was also attended by Ujang Solihin as the Head of the Sub Directorate of Producer Management of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) as a respondent.
Cigarette butts are the most littered item globally. Around 4,5 trillion cigarette filters are thrown into the environment every year. This litter is easily carried by stormwater runoff through drainage systems and eventually into rivers, local streams, and other waterways. The Local Environmental Quality Survey in England in 2017 showed that 52% of smokers who smoke every day consider it normal to throw cigarettes down drains.
“Cigarette butts are the most scattered objects on earth. In addition, there are various kinds of toxic hazardous substances contained in them, so that if they are wasted in water, they will be able to pollute biota, and if in a certain amount and volume they can kill 50% of the existing population,” said Yuyun Ismawati on National Waste Awareness Day 2024, Thursday (29/2/2024).
According to the World Health Organization, harmful chemicals dissolved from discarded filters (including nicotine, arsenic and heavy metals) can be toxic to the environment. Each cigarette contains more than 7,000 chemicals and studies show that one filter can contaminate up to 40 liters of water.
He explained that the filters on cigarette butts take at least 15 years to decompose. During this process, thousands of microplastic fibers are formed. The filters on butts found at the end of cigarettes are made of cellulose acetate which can be degraded by light.
“For 40 years cigarette manufacturers have lied to the public. Cigarette filters containing cellulose acetate are man-made. Under normal conditions, products that contain this content include defective products. In the filter blend, various things are also added so that it does not burn and does not get wet. There are so many toxins,” Yuyun explained.
Meanwhile, the scattered cigarette filter waste should be the responsibility of tobacco manufacturers. Representative from the National Committee for Tobacco Control, Jalal said that currently the cigarette industry is an example of Corporate Social Irresponsibility. This means that the industry is not responsible for the impact caused because it still uses carcinogenic substances, which is contrary to the ISO 26000 standard for corporate social responsibility.
“This responsibility should look at the impact of its decisions and activities on society and the environment. The principles need to refer to ISO 2010 in the “Guidance on Social Responsibility” document which includes accountability, transparency, ethical behavior, respect for stakeholder interests, compliance with the law, respect for international norms of behavior, upholding human rights,” Jalal said.
Seeing the magnitude of the health and environmental impacts caused by cigarette butts, experts agree that there needs to be seriousness from the government to classify the waste in the B3 category and review regulations related to cigarette excise. This is because, according to the Chairperson of the Lentera Anak Foundation Lisda Sundari, a special systematic calculation of the impact is needed, such as weighing factors from the health economy.
“It is true that Indonesia is a country with a high cigarette excise revenue of up to 126 trillion, but excise is not income but a sin tax that must be paid because it endangers health and the environment. The excise tax of 126 trillion is compared to the costs that must be incurred by the state for diseases caused by cigarettes that reach threefold,” said Lisda.
“Based on best practices from WHO, cigarette excise tax should be 80%, while the regulation in Indonesian law is only 57%. The practice is still far from that,” Lisda added.
Not only Lisda, Jalal also agreed with the same thing. According to him, if cigarette excise also takes into account the impact it has on health and the environment, the value will be more than the economic amount. This is what makes cigarette prices in neighboring countries more expensive than Indonesia. Therefore, cooperation between health and environmental organizations, public campaigns and policy advocacy, strengthening regulations related to tobacco farming, encouraging an increase in cigarette excise, and legally prosecuting irresponsible cigarette industries are crucial to carry out.
Ujang Solihin, Head of the Sub Directorate of Producer Management at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, said that he agreed with the recommendations made by the experts. However, education still needs to be carried out to provide insight to the public on the impact of cigarette butt waste itself.
“Our biggest homework from the government, especially KLHK, is twofold. First, to declare whether this waste can be categorized as B3 waste. Second, related to research and development, it is important for Indonesia to assess the impact of this on the environment and ecosystem. On health too, not only from the tobacco side, but also the waste. We also agree on the EPR, that the government needs to develop a roadmap for reducing waste from cigarette butts,” he concluded. (*)