Authorities on Taiwan’s Xiaoliuqiu island have launched a cigarette-butt cleanup incentive program aimed at promoting responsible tourism and reducing marine pollution, according to reports by CNA and other local media. The Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area Administration, working with Haiyong Studio, is encouraging visitors to collect discarded cigarette butts—often overlooked litter that can be washed into the ocean—by offering postcards and small rewards in exchange.
Officials said the initiative builds on earlier beach cleanups and targets cigarette filters specifically because their plastic fibers do not biodegrade and pose long-term environmental risks. Cleanup tools are available at three locations on the island, and the program also includes stamp-based rewards for completing additional eco-friendly activities, with organizers saying the effort is designed to engage families and raise awareness among smokers about the impact of improper disposal.