The UNSMOKE Butt Blitz
September 2025 Edition
This September 2025, A Greener Future is partnering with UNSMOKE to launch a coast-to-coast cigarette litter cleanup — and we’re inviting communities, individuals, and corporate teams across Canada to take part.
In honour of World Cleanup Day on September 20, we’re setting our sights on a bold goal: Collect 1 million cigarette butts from streets, parks, beaches, sidewalks, and trails across the country, and recycle them with TerraCycle.
Cigarette litter is the most commonly littered item on the planet. But together, we can change that. Let’s collect 1 million cigarette butts across Canada.
Join the National Movement this September
What is the UNSMOKE Butt Blitz?
The UNSMOKE Butt Blitz is an annual national initiative that empowers people across Canada to take direct environmental action by removing toxic cigarette litter from public spaces. Throughout the month of September, we’ll be tracking how many cigarette butts are collected in each community and celebrating the collective impact.
Highlights:
Runs September 1–30, 2025
Flagship events in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal on Sept 20 (World Cleanup Day)
Open to individuals, families, community groups, and workplaces
We provide guidance, resources, and support — you take action locally
Why Cigarette Litter Matters
Pollution
Cigarette butts contain plastic, arsenic, lead, and nicotine, which can leach into soil and water, contaminating ecosystems and harming wildlife and people. A single cigarette butt can pollute up to 1,000 litres of water.
Wildlife
Small animals, birds, and marine life mistake cigarette butts for food, which can lead to ingestion, poisoning, and even death. The plastic fibres in filters don’t break down, making them a persistent threat to wildlife.
Fire Hazard
Improperly discarded cigarette butts can cause wildfires and urban fires, especially in dry conditions. Countless fires worldwide have been started by smoldering cigarette butts tossed onto dry grass, leaves, or garbage.
How to Participate
Step 1: Register For an Event
Fill out our registration form by clicking on the event you want to attend.
Step 2: Show up and Check in
We’ll send you an event reminder the day before the event, and a check-in message via text once the event starts. Just respond to that text when you’re on-site!
Step 3: Collect or Drop Off Butts
Use gloves, a litter picker (optional), and a container or bag. We recommend reusing something you already have — like a coffee tin, glass jar, or paper bag. Pick up in your neighbourhood, or pick up on-site at the event. Drop your collected butts off at our meeting location.
Step 4: Check out the Results
Follow us on social media, or watch the evening news to see how we did!
Media
CBC News Cigarette "Butt Blitz" clean up takes off in Montreal
CTV News Campaign to clean up one million cigarette butts comes to Halifax
CityNews Butt Blitz returns: Montrealers hit the streets to clean up cigarette litter
Brantford Expositor Butt blitz hits Brantford's downtown
Things to Know TO Butt Blitz Toronto
Global News Hamilton’s one-day “Butt Blitz” takes 37,000 cigarette remains off city streets
CBC News City wants you to stop tossing your cigarette butts on the street
The Hamilton Spectator Volunteers collect 37,052 cigarette butts during Hamilton cleanup event
CHCH Butt Blitz aims to clean up cigarette butts off the ground
Simcoe.com How Butt Blitz aims to give Barrie a greener future
