Sophia Sharypov – Mustangs Ahead
(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) - While most people were just starting their Saturday, Lakewood Ranch High School (LRHS) Mustangs and Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) members were already out at Coquina Beach, from 9 - 11 a.m., working to clean up the shoreline.
Members of SWAT spent the morning collecting trash, focusing especially on one of the most common and overlooked types of litter: cigarette butts.
As Mustangs spread across the sand, they quickly realized how much waste was actually there. Small items like plastic fragments, wrappers, and especially cigarette butts began to add up fast.
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“We collected a bunch of cigarette butts and put them all in a jar so our county advisors can see how much of an impact public smoking had on beaches,” said SWAT officer and junior Daniela Vallati.
What many people don’t realize is that cigarette butts are one of the biggest contributors to beach pollution. In fact, they are considered the most common form of litter found in oceans and on beaches worldwide. Studies also show that cigarette butts can make up 30 to 45 percent of all litter on heavily used beaches.
Beyond just being unsightly, they are harmful to the environment. Cigarette filters are made of plastic and can take years to break down, releasing toxic chemicals into the sand and water over time.
For many Mustangs, seeing how many cigarette butts made them truly see what an impact they were making, what seemed like small, harmless pieces of litter turned into a clear example of how everyday habits can impact the environment.
By the end of the morning, students had filled bags with waste and left the beach noticeably cleaner than they found it.