On The Hunt for Butts

After two successful Big Cigarette Butt Hunts in Cairns, thanks to funding from Queensland Gives, No More Butts is now expanding the events to four new locations including right here in the Whitsundays.

No More Butts is taking action against cigarette butts, the single biggest contributor to litter in Australia and around the world, holding its first event in 2022 where more than a dozen volunteers picked up 4,500 butts in just under an hour.

In 2023, 20 volunteers from several different organisations and businesses joined forces to comb the streets of Cairns and, after one hour, had collected a total of 10,350 butts.

The success of this event saw two further events held in December 2023 in partnership with the Sea Shepherd Marine Debris Campaign, Rye, Victoria and Surfers Paradise played host to the groups, who picked up more than 14,000 butts.

“Partnering with councils, businesses, local rangers and other like-minded groups is having a great impact,” said No More Butts Executive Director Mr Shannon Mead.

“Although our ultimate goal is to ban plastic cigarette filters, for now, we need to spend a lot of effort on education and prevention, as well as picking up these toxic nasty plastic parcels.”

Jumping into the “butt mobile” in April, No More Butts founder Mr Mead will travel from Innisfail to Mackay to participate in the four events across two weekends.

Identifying hot spots, based on previous visits and community feedback, Mr Mead is optimistic that others may join him in the hunt for as many butts as possible.

Although some essentials will be on hand, participants are encouraged to bring their own gloves, suncream, a hat and a water bottle.

WHAT: Big Cigarette Butt Hunt
WHEN: Saturday, April 13 from 8:15am
WHERE: Carpark next to Airlie Beach Lagoon
MORE INFORMATION: https://bit.ly/nqldbh24 or scan the QR code below

20 volunteers picked up 10,350 butts in one hour in Cairns. Photo: stock image

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