Activists seek to ensure 'butt-free' beaches

Activists are trying to get smokers to clean up their act on Italy's public beaches.

Volunteers of Marevivo environmentalist group are distributing 100,000 pocket-size ashtrays this weekend along more than 300 beaches to discourage people from using the beach as an ashtray.

The insulated plastic envelopes allow smokers to extinguish cigarettes and then store the used filters for future disposal.

The United Nations Environment Programme says more than 500,000 butts are tossed into the Mediterranean Sea every day, but it takes up to five years until the environment fully absorbs them. UNEP says the butts can be fatal for whales, tortoises, sea birds and fish.

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