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Liepāja, as a coastal national city, is purposefully investing in maintaining a clean and well-kept shoreline. However, smoking-related waste – cigarette butts and the plastic fractions associated with them – remains one of the most significant sources of beach pollution.

Within the Integrated LIFE project “Waste to Resources IP”, the pilot project implemented in Liepāja by Ltd Zaļā josta provides the first systematically measured evidence that targeted infrastructure and public awareness efforts can deliver real, quantifiable results. In the pilot areas, the number of cigarette butts entering the environment has decreased by one third, demonstrating the effectiveness of the implemented activities.

The coastal area of Liepāja has long faced the consequences of cigarette butt pollution. According to long-term marine litter monitoring data, since 2012 the total amount of waste in Liepāja’s coastal area has reached an average of 358 litter items per 100 metres of beach. This indicator is considered critical, as it significantly exceeds the European Union threshold for good environmental status – 20 litter items per 100 metres.

Long-term monitoring data also reveal alarming levels of smoking-related waste pollution: on average, 22.5 smoking-related litter items are found per 10 metres of beach, accounting for 37.23% of the total litter.

According to medium-term marine litter monitoring data for the period 2023–2025, 196 smoking-related litter items were found per 100 metres of beach in Liepāja. This indicates a slight deterioration compared to the previous period (2020–2022), when the level was 186 items per 100 metres.

However, Liepāja’s experience over the past two years provides clear evidence that cigarette butt pollution can be effectively addressed through targeted action. Within the Integrated LIFE project “Waste to Resources IP”, Ltd Zaļā josta, in cooperation with the Municipality of Liepāja, has implemented a комплекс of solutions based on practical measures, public engagement, and data-driven impact.

Before the start of the 2025 beach season, three thematic environmental objects were installed on the city’s beaches. These serve both as visual awareness elements highlighting the issue of cigarette butt pollution and as functional cigarette butt disposal units. The objects are seasonally located at the ends of Roņu Street and Vaiņodes Street, while a permanent large-scale environmental object has been installed at 21 Atmodas Boulevard.

These installations are not merely aesthetic additions to the urban environment – they are part of a broader strategy aimed at changing everyday behaviour and habits by offering residents and visitors a clear, visually appealing, and practical way to dispose of cigarette butts properly.

In addition to public awareness and engagement activities, in-person educational events were organised, informational materials were distributed, and an educational campaign was carried out in the city’s public transport system.

Control monitoring data collected at the end of 2025 confirm that in the pilot areas where solutions were fully implemented, cigarette butt pollution significantly decreased. The overall average reduction in smoking-related litter across replicated post-season assessments in 2023–2025 is 33%, demonstrating the effectiveness of the implemented measures.

The best results were achieved in Liepāja’s Karosta area, where the initial assessment had also identified the greatest challenges. This result shows that not only awareness-raising, but also concrete infrastructure works – people begin to use designated cigarette butt disposal points, and the environment becomes cleaner.

Chairman of the Board of Ltd Zaļā josta, Jānis Lapsa, emphasises:

“Coastal areas are public spaces where we all want to live in a clean, attractive, and healthy environment. The results of the LIFE project in Liepāja show that change is not just theoretical – it is real and measurable. Targeted infrastructure that provides people with a convenient and clear way to manage cigarette butts, combined with public awareness efforts, creates lasting change. This is an important step towards a cleaner coastline and a more responsible attitude towards the environment.”

These data and experiences are significant not only for Liepāja, but also for other coastal municipalities where visitor flows and activities place pressure on the environment. Liepāja’s example demonstrates that, with carefully targeted solutions and public engagement, the issue of smoking-related waste can not only be reduced, but can also lead to positive behavioural change in society.