Report: Small plastic pieces surpass cigarette butt litter on RI shores

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A new report from Save the Bay has determined that plastic pieces have exceeded cigarette butts on local shores.

This is the first time this has occurred since Rhode Island has been participating in the International Coastal Cleanup program.

Small plastic and foam pieces were the most prevalent items collected by volunteers in 2023.

The group collects trash and records the findings for an annual report that is used to help reduce marine debris.

“When this project started over 35 years ago, the focus was on recording the most common types of identifiable trash so that we could get a picture of what was littering our shores and where it was coming from,” said Save The Bay Volunteer and Internship Manager July Lewis. “In terms of the number of items picked up, cigarette butts were always at the top of the list.”

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