Your voice matters. We’re calling on City Hall to ban plastic cigarette filters, a leading source of plastic pollution in San Francisco and around the world. Policy change is the most effective way to address this problem at its source. This effort goes beyond awareness—it’s about mobilizing our community to turn shared concern into concrete results.

Cigarette butts are the #1 most littered item on Earth, with over 4.5 trillion discarded every year. They’re made of plastic, not paper — and they leach toxic chemicals into our waterways, harm marine life, and contribute massively to urban and coastal pollution. Street cleanups and education help, but they can’t keep pace with the sheer volume of waste. The only lasting solution is eliminating plastic filters altogether.

Santa Cruz has already passed groundbreaking legislation to ban them, Tiburon has gone further by banning the sale of all tobacco products within its municipality. Now San Francisco has the opportunity to lead the state — and the nation — in following suit. But that won’t happen without public pressure. Legislators need to hear from their constituents that this issue matters to them — that we value clean streets, healthy oceans, and responsible corporate accountability more than a single-use, non-biodegradable piece of plastic that offers zero health benefit to smokers.

By writing postcards, showing up, and speaking out, San Francisco residents remind elected officials like Senator Scott Wiener, City Attorney David Chiu and your District Supervisor that there is strong public support behind this movement. Every letter, every voice, adds momentum toward a future where plastic cigarette filters are a thing of the past — and our cities, coasts, and oceans are cleaner because of it.

In short: this isn’t just about banning litter. It’s about proving that when communities organize, educate, and act collectively, policy can reflect our shared values — and protect our planet.