Para Bien o Para Mal is an ecological project that came to Mexico to raise awareness about how harmful cigarette butts are for the environment. In addition, they organize collection days to convert this waste into different products and thus prevent the toxic substances they contain from reaching subway aquifers or the ocean.
The project is an initiative of Ecofilter and World Cleanup Day, two organizations that seek to generate a positive environmental impact through short and medium term actions. This immediacy is due to the growing need to keep our environment clean in order to have more livable spaces and clean air that can be breathed without a problem. Particularly now that we citizens are taking over open spaces, we believe these initiatives are much needed.
A single cigarette butt is capable of contaminating up to 50 liters of water and the toxic substances it releases can remain in the environment for up to 15 years. If we are observant, we will notice that the city is covered with them, which is a problem in itself, because in addition to clogging our sewers, birds mistake them for food, causing them to suffocate. For all this, it is necessary to take actions that allow us to solve the problem as quickly as possible.
How to be part of the solution
Para Bien o Para Mal's proposal is to clean and recycle cigarette butts to convert the pulp obtained from their cellulose into notebooks, flowerpots, pencils and other objects. Individually, one can do something as simple as separating the garbage in our homes, deposit the cigarette butts in the containers that the movement has installed throughout the city or, if we can't find one, put the cigarette butt in our bag and throw it away when we get home.
To collect cigarette butts and get people interested in caring for the environment, Para Bien o Para Mal organizes colillatones, which, as the name implies, are clean-up days dedicated especially to cigarette butts. Once the event is over, all the cigarette butts are put in PET bottles and sent to a processing plant to turn them into the different products we have already mentioned. On the other hand, if you want to join this movement from home, all you have to do is collect your cigarette butts in a bottle and take it to a collection center. Here you can check the one closest to you.
In addition to the collection of this type of waste, Para Bien o Para Mal also promotes actions such as the reduction of plastics, separating garbage and traveling around the city by bicycle or public transportation. In the end, any action, no matter how small it may seem, helps the city to clean up little by little and, now that we are returning to clear and open areas, it is worthwhile to continue making efforts.
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