WWF says that 3,000 tons of cigarette butts are scattered annually in Greece. Credit: Susanne Nilsson CC-BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Greece is moving to tackle one of its most pervasive forms of pollution—cigarette butts—by proposing a new “polluter pays” framework that requires tobacco companies to fund cleanup efforts on beaches and in public spaces.
The plan, overseen by the Hellenic Recycling Organization (EOAN), aims to establish a nationwide collection system to finance municipal cleanup and install necessary infrastructure like public ashtrays and bins.
Government targets and goals
The EOAN has set clear reduction goals to curb scattered cigarette butts:
10% reduction within three years.
30% reduction within five years.
Cigarette filters have been classified as single-use plastics under EU law since 2020. An Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system, mandated by the EU to manage this waste, was due to start in Greece in 2023, but implementation has been delayed by ongoing negotiations with the tobacco industry.
WWF Greece calls for stronger action on cigarette butts
While welcoming the “polluter pays” principle, environmental group WWF Greece argues the government’s draft Joint Ministerial Decision (JMD) does not go far enough and has “serious shortcomings.”
In its comprehensive counter-proposal, submitted during the consultation period, WWF highlighted several failures in the government’s draft. Among them is the failure to specify the amount of producer contributions or the method for distributing resources to municipalities.
Full implementation of the system, emphasizes WWF Greece, could prevent the scattering of 3,000 tons of cigarette butts annually, save tens of millions of euros for municipalities, and contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable Greece.
WWF warns that without significant changes, Greece risks missing a vital opportunity to effectively address cigarette butt pollution, which its data shows is the most common type of plastic waste on Greek beaches.
Related: Greece’s Stubborn Smoking Habit: Tougher Laws, Mixed Results