Photo: lanier67 via FlickrWith the arrival of this year’s 40th anniversary of Earth Day, it is encouraging to see more and more people, young and old, buying into a meaningful environmental ethic in their personal lives despite daunting environmental challenges. By carrying reusable grocery bags, taking public transit and recycling, to name just a few examples, we are all becoming increasingly aware of the need to be environmentally responsible. If you’re a smoker, there’s another very important step that would be a “twofer” win for your health and for the natural world: Quit for good!
Surprisingly, many of us don’t know that quitting smoking is another way to help combat climate change, and to significantly reduce the incredible amount of waste and litter due to carelessly discarded cigarettes butts in streets, waterways, and public areas like parks and beaches. While tobacco is the No. 1 cause of preventable death in the U.S., responsible for more than 400,000 deaths each year, it is less known that cigarettes also play a major role as toxic, hazardous waste in our already-overburdened environment. Astonishingly, the remnants of cigar... Read more
