In honor of Earth Day 2009, the Tobacco Free Campus Action Team of Montreat College will join forces with their colleagues at Montreat College and sponsor an educational booth on the effects of tobacco trash on the environment. They will also assist community members in stream clean-ups and other activities planned for the Earth Day Fair. Several agencies and businesses are sponsoring events and booths for the fair on April 25 from 12-5pm at the River Walk Park (behind Bi-Lo) in Black Mountain.
The widespread presence of cigarette litter is of great environmental concern since cigarette butts are composed of cellulose acetate (like plastic) and can last indefinitely. In addition, wildlife like animals, birds, fish, and whales often eat cigarette butts, which contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals. Cigarette butts are not digestible, and can sicken and even kill pets, fish and wildlife.
“The negative ecological effects of cigarette litter are large and growing,” said Stephanie Routh, student spokesperson. “For this year’s Earth Day we tried to make things better, at least in our own corner of the earth, and hope that more and more people get the message that the earth is not an ash tray and that you are harming your body and your community by using tobacco products.”
Tobacco prevention efforts at Montreat College are funded by the NC Health and Wellness Trust Fund, which funds the 100% Tobacco Free Colleges program, a statewide effort to encourage colleges, community colleges and universities to adopt stronger tobacco use policies on campuses throughout the state. Montreat College adopted a 100% Tobacco Free Policy on August 1, 2008, which prohibits tobacco use any time, anywhere, by anyone on campus grounds.