This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Pollution from human-generated waste in marine ecosystems has reached critical levels, with cigarette butts (CBs) among the most persistent and harmful pollutants. Globally, an estimated 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are discarded annually, making them the most common type of litter on beaches over the past three decades.
This material, composed primarily of cellulose acetate (a nonbiodegradable plastic), acts as a reservoir for more than 7,000 toxic compounds, including nicotine and heavy metals, which threaten the integrity of food webs through bioaccumulation and biomagnification. In this context, a study conducted in the municipality of Ayangue, Ecuador, positions children as leaders in local environmental governance through co-created citizen science. The paper is published in the journal Ocean & Coastal Management.
The research, led by the Amiguitos del Océano Foundation in collaboration with national and international academic institutions, evaluated the effectiveness of the "Monitoring of Cigarette Butts Ayangue Limpio" (MCBAL) project. The methodological approach was grounded in a participatory practice that went beyond data collection, positioning children ages 7 to 12 as active agents in transforming their environment. Ayangue, a commune legally recognized for its autonomy in managing terrestrial and marine resources, provided a setting for integrating local knowledge with scientific rigor.
The methodology combined qualitative and quantitative approaches, structured around three dimensions of impact: socio-environmental, scientific and educational. For systematic monitoring, standardized protocols were established that included monthly campaigns during low tide, covering a total sampling area of 1,500 m² (16,100 square feet) divided into fixed transects to ensure comparability over time. A 53.2% reduction was recorded in the number of cigarette butts collected directly from the sand during monitoring activities between 2023 and 2024.
This decline was not the result of chance but rather of a comprehensive strategy that combined dedicated infrastructure, awareness campaigns and community-based incentives. A component of this project was the installation of cigarette butt collectors made from reused PVC material at strategic points along the Ayangue boardwalk. Over 18 months of operation, these devices collected 1,198 cigarette butts that would otherwise have ended up in the marine sediment or been washed out to sea by the waves.
However, the greatest behavioral impact was observed with the creation of the "Exchange Point." This initiative allowed visitors and residents to rent sports equipment (such as snorkels or balls) in exchange for turning in specific types of waste collected from the beach, resulting in the removal of 941 cigarette butts and 97.9 kg (216 pounds) of additional trash in eight events. The study emphasizes that the success of citizen science in coastal environments depends on the legitimacy and continuity of governance structures. In Ayangue, the MCBAL project became integrated with the Cabildo (community council), which not only supported the children's proposals with logistics and materials but also began publicizing the Ecoclub's achievements through official channels to amplify the impact.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
