TRENTON – Environmentalists are breathing a sigh of relief as the smoking ban on beaches goes into effect this year.
The prohibition also affects public parks, since smoking is a lead cause of forest fires.
“This new law will protect us from second hand smoke and our communities, clean water, and the environment,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “Now we will no longer be turning our beaches into ashtrays.”
Cigarettes are an environmental problem and safety problem, he explained. They can be eaten by animals, marine life or even children. Furthermore, the cigarettes leave behind nicotine and pesticides in plastic fibers that will linger long after they are smoked.
