Cigarette butts are the most common trash collected in 2025—MMDA
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority revealed that cigarette butts were the most common trash collected in Metro Manila in 2025.
Citing data gathered by their Health Sanitation Services Coordination and Assistance Division, the agency listed the top five types of waste most frequently collected in the metro in the past year.
Cigarette butts accounted for the highest number of collected waste, followed by candy wrappers, plastic, other miscellaneous trash such as tissue, bus tickets, receipts, face masks, etc., and obstruction.
According to the agency, these are commonly discarded on roads, sidewalks, and in public areas.
"Nagpapaalala naman ang MMDA na sundin ang mga ordinansa at wastong pagtatapon ng basura. Ang pagkakaroon ng disiplina sa lansangan ay malaking tulong upang mapanatili ang kalinisan sa Kalakhang Maynila," the MMDA stressed.
MMDA Regulation 96-009 prohibits “littering, illegal dumping, illegal disposal of garbage” particularly “in public areas and immediate surroundings, including vacant lots, rivers, canals, drainage, and other waterways."
Offenders face penalties with fines worth P500 to P1,000 and eight to 16 hours of community service.
Violators who fail to settle their violations will be sent a summons or notice. If it is still ignored, a case will be filed against them in the Metropolitan Trial Court where they committed the violation.
Back in 2023, cigarette butts also made up the majority of trash thrown in the streets of Metro Manila, with 12,918 individuals apprehended for tossing them on the streets.
