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Tahoe conservationists distribute new cigarette canisters

Posted at 2:43 PM, Jun 23, 2019
and last updated 2019-06-23 17:43:53-04

STATELINE, Nev. (AP) — The oldest and largest conservation group at Lake Tahoe and a coalition of water suppliers plan to distribute 250 cigarette butt collection canisters around the lake this summer to reduce litter.

Leaders of the League to Save Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Water Supplies Association say the thousands of butts collected in recent beach cleanups served as a call to action.

More than 4,500 butts were gathered earlier this month, more than 6,000 at an Earth Day cleanup in April and a total of more than 27,600 over the past year.

Marilee Movius, the league's community engagement manager, says an estimated 98% of cigarette filters are made of plastic fibers that are not biodegradable.

Madonna Dunbar, the water group's leader, says improperly discarded butts also pose a wildfire risk.