Why do so many smokers feel entitled to drop their empty packs, lighters and matchbooks on the street?
by 
Roger Kovaciny
ANSWERS: 17
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Just sheer laziness I suppose. Where I live people don't bother using bins, it seems chucking it in the road is good enough. So I wouldn't say smokers litter more than non smokers, just that their litter is far more noticable, seeing as it's usually a bright colour and says that smoking can kill you in very big letters. Also, putting something in your pocket whilst riding a bike is very difficult
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The same reason, people who buy drinks, coffee, food, etc., at fast food places feel entitled to throw the cups and wrappers on the street. Sheer selfishness and thoughtlessness. On the other hand, I have seen litter on the ground that I know was not thrown there - I once saw a full litter bin completely emptied by a strong wind - all the effort of folks who put the litter in the bin was totally wasted. Thank goodness that some outdoor bins have swinging covers on them.
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I don't think it's just limited to smokers doing the littering. I see more empty water bottles than anything else in the ditches here and on bike trails It's more of a mind set in general. If the fines were heftier and enforcement more rabid, it would help greatly. I'll give an example, Singapore. I visited there in 1995, just before they enacted their public smoking laws. Walking down most streets, there was an ash tray no more than every 50 feet, with a litter bin. You have to place your butt in the tray, not drop it as is common elsewhere. The opportunity is there to place trash easily in a bin. Their enforcement of their anti litter laws is harsh and the fines enormous. Singapore also has a special division of city police, whose sole task, is nailing litter bugs, smokers or other wise. It works. It's the cleanest city I've ever visited.
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Someone who's not taking care of their own body is unlikely to take care of the space around them either. Of course, plenty of non-smokers litter as well, and doubtless there are smokers who don't litter. But the combination of allowing oneself to remain addicted to a poisonous habit and the lack of concern for dumping trash into the environment are at least compatible mindsets.
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I see more beer bottles and soda cans than any other trash on the roadways. Also the trash collectors where I live, seem to dump just as much of the trash can on the street as in their trucks, and they drive away in a hurry. I have called the company about this and they tell me that it is the equipment, the route times and training of the driver that makes it difficult to keep all the trash in the truck. HUH?? so why bother??
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It has to do with the oink factor. Some people are pigs.
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A-FREAKIN-MEN! I work for the parks and rec department and in a year I would say I pick up between 4 and 5 thousand cigarette butts off the ground among many other things (you wouldn't believe the stuff people leave in parks)
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same reason little kids drop candy bar wrappers... no where else to put 'em except the ground.
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Its the same habits that also apply to beer drinkers and their empty cans and bottles. .
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Maybe they think they are being cool.
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They don't think about what they're doing. I volunteer in my city for litter pick up along a stretch of road and strangely find a lot of empty laxative packages. Just goes to prove that litterers are full of s*%t.
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While the rest of us might see a town, a city or even a planet, they just see a giant ashtray.
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Simple answer: Because they are lazy! (Im sorry for all you smokers who feel affended) But seriously its disgusting My motto for smokers: Throw it away, Or get away!] Love ya, AnswerWoman532
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Cause it looked so cool when Humphrey Bogart did it!
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Careless. Thoughtless. I don't think the majority give it a thought.
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I don't know but it is very irritating. Everyday when I walk from our building down to the mailbox the road is littered with cigarettes like they have been thrown out the window of cars. It is very irresponsible and very inconsiderate for our environment. If a person chooses to smoke that is their right to do so, but they should have the decency to clean up after themselves.
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the cigarettes themselves are more annoying - and more prevalent - as litter than that other stuff. Even smokers who don't drop empty packs and such, will usually still throw their filters out the window or drop them on the ground. A VERY few dispose of them properly. It's disgusting.
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