Open Letter to R.J. Reynolds

To: R. J. Reynolds/British America Tobacco of the United Kingdom;
Susan Cameron, CEO; Thomas Wajnert, Board Chairman; Executive officers; Shareholders; Employees and R. J. Reynolds’s consumers, worldwide

From: Lolly Champion and the Community of Cannon Beach, Oregon

Re: Request R. J. Reynolds/British America Tobacco assume responsibility for environmental recycling of the toxic butt litter manufactured by R. J. Reynolds and littered by their consumer

The very minute portion of the 4.1 trillion littered butts [annually] that are enclosed, were discarded in butt containers and on our sidewalks, our streets, and most sadly, on our Northwest beach in just the last three weeks. The beach where the iconic Haystack Rock dominates our coastal landscape and brings visitors from throughout the world. Unfortunately many are butt-litterers, while others comment to our Chamber about the unsightly butts on our beach and pathways.

We are a small community of approximately 1700 people year round, but receive a constant influx of visitors. As that population has continued to grow, so has our community’s plight of butts that create toxic litter responsible for seeping chemicals into our waters, harming our marine life and becoming a blight on our natural setting of sea and forest lands. Our community has chosen to take an activist stance. Zero butts! Aware that your corporate stance towards dealing with ever greater calls demanding the stopping of butt litter, in particular your cellulose acetate (plastic) filters that don’t break down and remain toxic, you have created the non-profit Keep America Beautiful to counter the increasing calls here and in the European Union for governmental laws against your products. It appears with your funding of Keep America Beautiful you would offer your assistance in recycling butts collected and returned to you for a sustainable and environmental process.

In reviewing what other countries are doing with pervasive cigarette litter, it is welcomed information for those who research to learn of many developing solutions by simply using Google. I am certain you have many considered projects at the ready and the community of Cannon Beach hopes our returning of butts to you will add to your abilities to move forward in a sustainable recycle program as they are doing in many other countries across the planet. From available documents on finding solutions, it appears America is lagging far behind other countries in their approach to containment of butts and the damage they create. Also lagging in America are the innovative measures to change smoker behavior now applied throughout the European counties. We in Cannon Beach ask, “ why?”

Proud that our community has purchased sixty-four butt receptacles put in place in just the last three weeks we have further added community contributions allowing us to buy 200 pocket ashtrays to pass out to smokers on the street and beach. The message to each smoker is to empty their pocket ashtrays for reuse and place their butts into one of our containers for the purpose of not adding to trash but to be recycled. We are a community committed to work to a goal of zero butts.

Thank you for your assistance to stop the source of the extreme damage to soil, air, waters and creatures across the globe by cigarettes and for your combined efforts to change the habits of smokers who litter your product. Most importantly, thank you for making sure the enclosed butt litter is recycled in an environmentally appropriate process.

Sincerely,

Lolly Champion
The Community of Cannon Beach
including Environmental Non-Profits
Businesses, Lodging, Food Establishments
& Many of Our Visitors