Europäische Städte fordern ein EU-weites Verbot von Zigarettenfiltern

City administrations from Dublin to Munich are pushing for an EU-wide ban on cigarette filters, arguing the plastic remnants are a cosmetic waste that litters streets and burdens municipal cleanup budgets. The push comes as negotiations over the EU's revamped waste and packaging rules intensify, with local governments seeking to classify filters as single-use plastics. Cigarette butts are among the most commonly littered items in Europe, and cities say current producer-responsibility schemes do not cover the full cost of collection. The outcome matters for tobacco manufacturers and for municipal waste budgets, which absorb much of the cleanup expense. Watch for whether the European Commission and member states back a ban or opt for stricter extended producer responsibility instead.