In 2008 the students observed that street and sidewalk trash included a significant amount of cigarette butts. After doing some research, the students realized that the cigarette butts were more than just an eye sore. They were not biodegradable, caused pollution in the marsh and ocean, were hazards to native wildlife and even humans. They also learned that not only was it a problem found in the block that we had adopted but was a wide spread problem in the nation and world.

The students decided to reduce the amount of cigarette butts by working with the businesses in Kailua Town. The "Plant Your Butts Here Campaign" was launched. As a pilot project, six sand filled planters were placed with four businesses in 2009 with the goal of reducing the number of cigarette butts that are tossed, flicked or stomped onto the streets. The planters were purchased with money raised from the school store.

To collect data on whether or not this project was having an impact on reducing cigarette butt... moreIn 2008 the students observed that street and sidewalk trash included a significant amount of cigarette butts. After doing some research, the students realized that the cigarette butts were more than just an eye sore. They were not biodegradable, caused pollution in the marsh and ocean, were hazards to native wildlife and even humans. They also learned that not only was it a problem found in the block that we had adopted but was a wide spread problem in the nation and world.

The students decided to reduce the amount of cigarette butts by working with the businesses in Kailua Town. The \"Plant Your Butts Here Campaign\" was launched. As a pilot project, six sand filled planters were placed with four businesses in 2009 with the goal of reducing the number of cigarette butts that are tossed, flicked or stomped onto the streets. The planters were purchased with money raised from the school store.

To collect data on whether or not this project was having an impact on reducing cigarette butt pollution, the students began to count all of the butts found during the street clean-ups.

This problem exists in all parts of the world. 30% of trash collected during any community trash pick up effort consists of cigarette butts.

We learned that a reason why this percentage is so high is because there is a lack of community awareness about the negative effects of cigarette butt litter. Many people think the butts are biodegradable (paper) and are harmless.

The butts are actually made of plastic and can take 7 - 1o years to decompose. Even worse, the nicotine found in the butts pollute the storm waters which end up in our oceans, ponds, lakes, rivers and marshes.

One cigarette butt soaked in a gallon of water can kill 80% of organisms that are placed in this nicotine and water solution. It is hard to walk by a cigarette butt without picking it up after learning this fact!

In 2010, the students determined that although there was an initial reduction in the amount of cigarette butts found littering the ground after the first 6 planters were placed in the community, they still found thousands of butts still littering the streets. They identified areas where large amounts of butts were found littering the ground and decided that more planters needed to be placed in the community.

In 2010, the students determined that although there was an initial reduction in the amount of cigarette butts found littering the ground after the first 6 planters were placed in the community, they still found thousands of butts still littering the streets. They identified areas where large amounts of butts were found littering the ground and decided that more planters needed to be placed in the community.

In August 2010, the school received the Youth Philanthropy Service Grant to expand the campaign. The grant provided the funds needed to place more planters in the community. We... moreIn 2010, the students determined that although there was an initial reduction in the amount of cigarette butts found littering the ground after the first 6 planters were placed in the community, they still found thousands of butts still littering the streets. They identified areas where large amounts of butts were found littering the ground and decided that more planters needed to be placed in the community.

In 2010, the students determined that although there was an initial reduction in the amount of cigarette butts found littering the ground after the first 6 planters were placed in the community, they still found thousands of butts still littering the streets. They identified areas where large amounts of butts were found littering the ground and decided that more planters needed to be placed in the community.

In August 2010, the school received the Youth Philanthropy Service Grant to expand the campaign. The grant provided the funds needed to place more planters in the community. We also added in the goal of increasing public awareness of cigarette butt pollution and used grant funds to add flags to the planters to make them more noticeable and created stickers with cigarette butt facts written on them to give out to the public.

The planter design also evolved to include a scoop (used kitty litter scoop) attached to the planter so our community partners could help keep the butt planters clean. In July 2010, the students determined that although there was an initial reduction in the amount of cigarette butts found littering the ground after the first 6 planters were placed in the community, they still found thousands of butts still littering the streets. They identified areas where large amounts of butts were found littering the ground and decided that more planters needed to be placed in the community.

In August 2010, the school received the Youth Philanthropy Service Grant to expand the campaign. The grant provided the funds needed to place more planters in the community. We also added in the goal of increasing public awareness of cigarette butt pollution and used grant funds to add flags to the planters to make them more noticeable and created stickers with cigarette butt facts written on them to give out to the public.

The planter design also evolved to include a scoop (used kitty litter scoop) attached to the planter so our community partners could help keep the butt planters clean.