Tobacco firms will be forced to pay for cleaning up millions of discarded ... trends now Tobacco firms will be forced to pay for cleaning up millions of discarded cigarette butts under new environmental rules in Spain One study said the cost will be €12 to €21 per citizen per annum - up to €1 billion Tobacco companies are predicted to pass on the cost to the consumer Around 500 Spanish beaches have become smoke-free to reduce sea pollution By Katherine Lawton For Mailonline Published: 17:58 GMT, 3 January 2023 | Updated: 18:06 GMT, 3 January 2023 Viewcomments Tobacco companies will be forced to pay for the clean-up of millions of discarded cigarette butts under new environmental rules in Spain. The ruling, coming into force on Friday, is part of a bundle of measures aimed at increasing recycling and reducing waste. According to The Guardian, the ruling includes a ban on single-use plastic cutlery and plates, cotton buds, polystyrene cups and plastic straws, as well as reducing plastic food packaging. The law conforms to a European Union directive which limits the use of single-use plastics and educates polluters on how to clear any mess they create. Tobacco companies are to pay for the cleaning up of millions of discarded cigarette butts under new environmental laws in Spain. [File image] Cigarette firms will also be responsible for encouraging the public not to discard their butts in public settings, although it remains unclear how the clean-up will be implemented and what the cost will be. One study said the cost is between €12 to €21 per citizen per annum, which is a total of up to €1 billion (£882,000). Meanwhile, earlier this year the Catalan government proposed a scheme where cigarette butts could be redeemed for €0.20 each - adding €4 to the current average price of €5 per pack of 20. Tobacco companies are expected to pass on the cost to the consumer, providing one more incentive to quit smoking. Approximately 500 Spanish beaches have been declared smoke-free to reduce the number of cigarette butts entering the sea and to improve public health. [File image] According to government statistics from last year, around 22 per cent of Spaniards smoke - 23.3 per cent of men and 16.4 per cent of women - compared with an EU average of 18.4 per cent. A survey by the family medicine association revealed that 85 per cent favour further restrictions on smoking, with 72 per cent backing a ban on the habit in the outdoor spaces of bars and restaurants. It comes as cigarette butts are one of the most universal forms of litter, taking approximately 10 years to decompose while emitting toxic substances such as lead and arsenic. Around 500 Spanish beaches have been declared smoke-free to reduce the number of cigarette ends entering the sea and to improve public health. Barcelona outlawed smoking in all of the city's 10 beaches last year. Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility