health

Cigarette butts for free food? How one group is asking people to rethink litter

The WasteBar food truck hopes the eye-catching deal will change people’s attitude to waste in the Netherlands

Cigarette butts for free food? How one group is asking people to rethink litter

TL;DR

  • A Dutch food truck called WasteBar accepts cigarette butts as payment for food and drinks.
  • This initiative aims to raise awareness about plastic waste, as cigarette butts are a common form of litter.
  • Poffertjes can be purchased for 20 cigarette butts, with drinks and other items priced accordingly.
  • The concept originated in Goa, India, and was brought to the Netherlands by entrepreneur Noreen van Holstein.
  • The WasteBar collects butts and hopes to find a partner for recycling, having already collected over 500,000 butts.
  • The initiative is seen as an effective way to change attitudes towards littering and encourage environmentally friendly behavior through social dynamics and community participation.