PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12)

Cigarette butts on beaches are igniting concern, especially considering they usually end up in our ocean.

Now, a South Florida group that cares for sea turtles is trying to spark change.

Cigarette butts are always one of the most common items we find on beaches during beach clean ups. They are everywhere, Loggerhead Marine Life Center Conservation Coordinator Demi Fox said.

Just a short walk on Juno Beach turned up cigarette butts at nearly every step.

The ones CBS12 came across havent hit the ocean just yet, but when they do, ingestion by marine life is a giant threat.

Theres actually plastic filters and loads of chemicals in there that dont biodegrade over time, Fox said.

Loggerhead Marine Life Center is trying to keep the cigarette butts off of the beaches and out of the water.

Theyre installing receptacles on fishing piers all over North America to keep the most littered item in South Florida out of the water.

Trying to eradicate the cigarette butts from the beaches and ocean now is our best method, Fox said.

Originally posted here:

Cigarette butts plaguing South Florida beaches - WPEC