THE village of Adare is serious about biodiversity and protecting the beautiful River Maigue which runs through the picturesque tourist spot.
Adare Tidy Towns launched a simple but potent environmental awareness initiative, inviting hospitality businesses locally to play a vital role in its success. The ‘Small Butt Deadly’ campaign hopes to raise awareness of the true environmental impact of cigarette litter.
Fianna Fáil councillor and chairperson of Adare Tidy Towns, Bridie Collins, says that a single cigarette butt can pollute up to 1,000 litres of water, releasing toxic chemicals that can kill fish and aquatic invertebrates, causing long-term damage to biodiversity. When dropped on streets, footpaths, or green areas, she explained, cigarette butts are easily washed into drains, entering the groundwater system and ultimately, the River Maigue, a vital natural asset for the area.
“Water quality is something that we need to be mindful of, and we have our beautiful River Maigue in Adare. And one of the things that we’re sort of tasked with is ensuring that we have good water quality. So every day that we’re out litter picking, by far the biggest item is actually the cigarette butt,” Cllr Collins says.
“The other thing about it is that a cigarette butt is not just litter. What happens to it, particularly in Adare, is that people just chuck it on the ground. They think it’s a small little piece of litter going to disappear. What happens is, it ends up in our river water, because it ends up in the ground water system.
“The cigarette butt then physically breaks down into micro plastics and toxins. So, if you took a litre of river water that contained the fish and the micro-organisms and all those invertebrates that live in the water, and you put one cigarette butt in, it will kill everything in that water,” she insists.
Adare Tidy Towns consider hospitality businesses uniquely placed to make a meaningful difference in terms of biodiversity. With outdoor seating areas, and regular footfall, their support, they believe, can help reduce cigarette litter at the source.
“Simple actions such as providing clearly visible ashtrays, displaying campaign messaging, and reminding customers to dispose of cigarette butts responsibly can have an immediate and lasting impact. By working together, we can help keep Adare clean and welcoming for residents, visitors, and wildlife alike – and protect our groundwater and the River Maigue for future generations,” Cllr Collins said.