Towns dispute cigarette butt bin costs as their impact remains unclear

Municipalities are installing more cigarette butt bins under an EU requirement, but it is not yet known whether they reduce litter, and towns are already disputing reimbursement claims, Yle reports.

The rules introduced in 2023 require one cigarette waste bin for every 300 residents. In Savonlinna, that amounts to about 100 bins. The measure aims to reduce plastic waste and environmental harm because cigarette filters contain plastic.

In August, Savonlinna resident Janina Kosonen found a cigarette butt in the mouth of her puppy, Hati, during a walk. She managed to remove only half of it. Cigarette butts contain heavy metals and toxic substances, including arsenic and cadmium, and nicotine can be life-threatening to dogs.

Kosonen rushed Hati to a veterinary clinic, where staff induced vomiting twice. The butt did not come out, and she was told to monitor the puppy. Outside the clinic, Kosonen counted 30 cigarette butts on the ground between the entrance and her car. Hati recovered after the scare.

There is not yet a clear picture of whether the new bins have reduced littering, Tuuli Vähälä, a senior inspector at Finland’s Permit and Supervisory Agency, told Yle. The issue is being examined through waste composition studies, but only two have been carried out so far.

A 2025 study found that the number of cigarette butts had increased over three years both on the ground and in waste bins. Vähälä said no conclusions could be drawn from that study alone because the studies were not comparable. The agency also does not know how widely municipalities have added bins.

Municipalities initially pay for the bins and cleaning, then apply to the agency for reimbursement. Tobacco companies are responsible for part of the costs, but Mikkeli city gardener Marko Vuorinen said the companies demand detailed receipts and may refuse payment without them. Vähälä said reimbursement requires clear documentation.

Mikkeli is challenging a decision to deny payment for cigarette butt bins because receipts were missing. The administrative court has yet to rule on the case. Reimbursement is based on the number of bins bought, not a fixed amount, Vähälä said.

The bins usually consist of tubes attached to larger rubbish bins and cost about 100 euros each. Cigarette waste can corrode their metal, and people searching for cigarette butts also damage them.

Kosonen said smokers should take responsibility for disposing of their butts and carry a small portable ashtray. She considered using a muzzle on Hati during walks, but the puppy learned a command to drop things it picks up.