About this video
Vienna Alliance of Cigarette Butt Fighters – Vienna Takes on Cigarette Butts – EWWR 2026
Cigarette butts are among the most common types of waste in public spaces – and they are much more than just an aesthetic problem. The filters contain numerous pollutants that can enter soils and groundwater through rainwater, thereby burdening the environment, biodiversity, and ultimately health.
As part of the European Week for Waste Reduction – short EWWR (european week for waste reduction – website: www.ewwr.eu) – an event in the Festsaal Favoriten is dedicated to a particularly visible problem: cigarette waste in Vienna. Politics, environmental initiatives, and art come together to raise awareness and discuss concrete solutions.
The evening begins at 6 PM with a welcome from
Patrick Lobis (representative of the European Commission in Austria)
Marcus Franz (district leader of Favoriten) and
Jürgen Czernohorszky (City Councilor for Climate Protection, Environment, and Democracy)
Following this, the vernissage will be opened, showcasing various artistic approaches to the theme of environment and nature. (SDG12 – Sustainability Goal 12)
The Guinness World Record artist Ronald “Hero” Heberling will present his project “Infected Earth.”
Irene Holloway will introduce the “Vienna Tschick Challenge.”
The photographer Christian Kantner will show “Invisible Beauties – the Magic of Insects,” revealing the fascinating world of macro photography, while Angelika Schlager will also take a critical look at our relationship with the environment in “Nature with a Taste.” Afterward, the focus will turn directly to Vienna: In a short presentation by Planet Matters the extent of cigarette waste in the city will be discussed.
Joining is Felix Krainer, who reaches a large audience with around three million TikTok followers and was featured in Forbes’ “30 Under 30.” The focus of the rest of the evening will be the question: What actually happens to a discarded cigarette filter?
Stella Wittmann from Circular Vienna will report on activities in Favoriten and throughout Vienna. This will particularly address the reduction of cigarette filters and their toxic effects on biodiversity, groundwater, and health. To conclude, it will get political and concrete: In an open discussion round, representatives from politics and districts will meet. Together, concrete measures against cigarette waste will be developed.
Additionally, the districts will present brought POCKET ASH TRAYS – a simple but practical way to properly dispose of cigarette butts on the go. The event thus demonstrates: Waste reduction is not just a matter of garbage bins and cleanliness. It is a matter of environmental protection, health, awareness-raising, and shared responsibility. The message of the evening is clear:
A small cigarette butt may seem inconspicuous – its impact on the environment is not. Vienna therefore wants to take a closer look, raise awareness, and together with art, politics, and the population find ways to make the city cleaner and the environment healthier. Ultimately, manufacturers should pay for the waste collection fee for the butts or stubs:
The petition
www.zigarettenpfand.eu can still be signed across the EU.
Video: Shock – Cigarette Filters Destroy Lives (Duration 3 min 43)
Plant Die-off Due to Cigarettes
(Duration: 2 min 51)
Event Date: 26.11.26
Venue: Festsaal Favoriten Start: 6:00 PM
End 8:00 PM
Registration at: stellawitt1968@gmail.com
