Seoul ponders steeper cigarette butt fines

Cigarette butts stacked in a road gutter drain near Gangnam Station in southern Seoul on June 23 [YONHAP]

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is considering raising fines for the littering of cigarette butts.

According to the city government on Sunday, it is pushing forward with imposing heavier fines for smokers who throw away cigarette filters on the streets from the current 50,000 won ($38) to as much as 200,000 won.

The metropolitan government will propose the amendment of the regulation to the Environment Ministry.

Over 12 million cigarette butts were thrown away on the streets daily in 2020. This converts to over 4.5 billion cigarette butts littered in the city of Seoul every year.

The city government currently fines 50,000 won regardless of how many times the individual has been caught throwing away cigarette butts on the streets.

But the amendment will impose heavier fines depending on the number of times individuals have been caught throwing away cigarette filters — 100,000 won for the first time, 150,000 won the second time and 200,000 won the third time.

The amendment of the regulation comes as cigarette filters have been regarded as one of the major causes of flooding. Such garbage has been blocking the road drainage systems, especially during the monsoon season.

According to the National Disaster Management Research Institute, flood level doubles if two-thirds of the height of the drainage gets flooded. If the drainage becomes completely submerged, the flood level in the area rises six-fold and flooding occurs three times quicker.

Some 20,000 people, including street cleaners and volunteers, manage road drainage systems in the city. But the number is not enough to take care of some 550,000 drainage facilities in the city regularly filled with cigarette filters, many say.

“Drainages at high-risk areas, including those that have been flooded during the monsoon season, should be prioritized in being taken care of,” said Lee Young-joo, professor of fire prevention science at the University of Seoul.

“Measures to offer incentives to those who voluntarily clean up road drainages should also be drawn up.”

The amendment of the regulation is also expected to reduce the number of fires that break out due to smoking.

A total of 6,289 fires that occurred in the city last year were caused by smoking, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Fire & Disaster Headquarters.

BY MOON HEE-CHUL, CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]