Date of Defense

12-8-2023

Date of Graduation

12-2023

Department

Biological Sciences

First Advisor

Lisa DeChano-Cook

Second Advisor

Tiffany Schriever

Comments

Cigarette litter, whether traditional or electronic, is very prevalent across the globe. These waste products take an excessive amount of time to degrade, and they harbor many pollutants that may be released into the environment. The leachate from this waste can be toxic to plant and animal life, and this is a concern that is not well-known to the public. Many apparent misconceptions on used cigarettes, along with smoking norms, may amplify the amount of waste produced. This work aimed to discover what people understood about these items in general. A questionnaire was utilized to survey members of three towns on the topic of tobacco product waste. These prompts also inquired about one’s opinion on proposed methods to reduce cigarette waste in society. This research showed that most of those surveyed recognized used cigarette products as litter and had witnessed someone else participate in littering this waste in the past. Many admitted to littering themselves, and the most common reasons for doing so were a lack of convenience or education. To reduce the abundance of cigarette waste in the environment, the most suggested remedies were to better educate others and install more trash receptacles. Additional research of this nature could be very beneficial in discovering what will aid in waste reduction efforts in the future.

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Open Access

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