Tobacco industry to fund cigarette butt collection in Spain

After Ireland[1], it is Spain's turn to ask tobacco manufacturers to contribute to the financing of the collection of cigarette butts in the streets. This new law, which will come into force this Friday, January 6, transposes into Spanish domestic law the European directive on single-use plastics, or SUP directive[2].

This decision is part of a package of measures to reduce single-use waste and improve the recycling process of plastics. It includes, among other things, the banning of single-use plastic cutlery and plates, cotton buds, polystyrene cups and plastic straws, as well as the reduction of plastic food packaging. Tobacco products, particularly filters made of cellulose acetate, are among the most widespread plastic waste in the world, even though they are very toxic. They have therefore been included in the scope of the directive.

A cost yet to be defined

The terms and cost of this collection measure in the public domain in the strict sense have yet to be defined. According to a Catalan study, the cost would be between 12 and 21 euros per citizen per year, or a total of up to 1 billion euros.

It is assumed that tobacco manufacturers will pass the cost on to the consumer, which will provide an additional incentive to quit smoking. According to government statistics from last year, around 22% of Spaniards smoke regularly (16.4% of women and 23.3% of men), compared to a European average of 18.4%.

A risk of exploitation by the tobacco industry

The new regulation provides that cigarette manufacturers will also be responsible for "educating the public not to throw cigarette butts in public spaces". This approach places the responsibility for cigarette butt pollution solely on consumers, omitting the fact that this waste is produced by the manufacturers themselves. This transfer of responsibility poses several major problems. First of all, it goes against the very principle of polluter pays, which should place the responsibility on the manufacturer. Secondly, it obscures the implementation of proven measures that can reduce both cigarette butt pollution and tobacco consumption, such as the establishment of smoke-free areas or the outright banning of filters, which has no health justification. Finally, it offers a communication opportunity to the tobacco industry, which will be able to present itself as a socially responsible player. The latter provision goes directly against the country's obligations under the provisions of the WHO treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which equates this form of communication with advertising.

The Spanish transposition of the European directive reflects failures already identified in France and also internationally in the context of negotiations to reach a treaty on plastics.

Keywords: Spain, cigarette butts, plastic, waste, polluter pays principle

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[1] Generation without tobacco, Ireland: Tobacco industry must help fund street cleaning, published January 4, 2023, accessed January 5, 2023

[2] Stephen Burgen, Tobacco companies to be billed for cleaning up cigarette butts in Spain, The Guardian, published January 3, 2023, accessed January 5, 2023