The European Union has called for a ban on filter cigarettes.
Brussels, Munich, Dublin and Genoa are calling on the European Union to ban filter cigarettes, Politico writes: cigarette butts make up a huge share of the city's garbage, and cleaning costs billions of dollars a year. In The Hague they spend 2 million euros a year, in Brussels cigarette butts make up a third of all trash. The initiative is supported by the Netherlands, environmentalists and the World Health Organization, who point out that filters do not reduce the harm from smoking. Cleaning up cigarette butts costs $26 billion a year worldwide.
The residents of the city do not see this as an acute problem. Guide in Brussels Andrey Knish:.
"I don't really see many cigarette butts. Once a week the city turns into a big dump when bags are taken out on the street. And here is a political crisis, no budget, a retired prime minister - and a cigarette butt."
Guide in Dublin Vladimir Vysotsky:.
"The Irish smoke very little - cigarettes are expensive, they sell ten pieces for 10-12 euros. After smoking was banned in pubs, people refused. The problem does not concern us."
Guide in Munich Yevgeny Wilk:.
"Everything is relatively clean, this is complete news for me."
The European Union is changing the directives on tobacco products and single-use plastics - they may ban filters and limit cellulose acetate. The tobacco companies oppose this: they claim that filters reduce risks and push for the acetate to be recognized as biodegradable.