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Environment

San Diego Beaches Awash In Cigarette Butts

Enviro Groups Say Litter Problem Worsened In 2011

San Diego Beaches Awash In Cigarette Butts
Two environmental groups say cigarette butts were the most prevalent kind of litter on San Diego's beach again last year, and the problem is getting worse.

About 11,000 more cigarette butts were collected in beach clean-up events in 2011 than in 2010.

The numbers come from a report by San Diego Coastkeeper and the Surfrider Foundation. The groups say styrofoam and plastics also were commonly found.

The litter breakdown is from records kept by volunteers at clean-up events.

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It shows Pacific Beach, near Crystal Pier, was the cleanest beach in the city, while Ocean Beach was the dirtiest in terms of trash picked up per volunteer.

The report also shows six of the top 10 materials collected at beaches were made of plastic.