[andymcsherry]

Smoker in San Francisco here. I've thought about this quite a bit and here's my dilemma.

1. It is illegal to smoke indoors

2. San Francisco has made it illegal to have ash trays outdoors

3. Cigarettes set trash on fire so it's not acceptable to put them in the bin

4. Cigarettes have a tax on every pack earmarked to fund street clean-up

I'd prefer to not throw my cigarettes on the ground, but I've been left with no real alternative. Also, I've specifically paid a tax that should fund that clean-up.

[cname]

As someone who smokes occasionally, it sounds to me like you're just making excuses. In the past 10 years or so, I don't recall ever having to throw a butt on the ground. There was always an alternative.

Regarding your #4, that sounds nice and all, but that doesn't keep butts from ending up in streams and strewn all throughout the environment.

So often people will throw their butts on the sidewalk or in the street even when there's a cigarette-specific receptacle right nearby. There seems to be a cool factor there with the way people flick their butts away.

My technique is to rub out the burning part above the filter on the bottom of my shoe and then throw the filter in the next bin I see. That's just one idea; I'm sure there are many others.

[RandallBrown]

Put them out and put them in the garbage, your pocket, or a plastic bag.

When people go out to a national park they don't just throw trash on the ground because "I paid an entry fee that should fund the clean up."

[andymcsherry]

I think what I've mention already should outline the impracticality of your suggestion. It's hard to distinguish between a cigarette that's fully extinguished or not. This is why ashtrays are made of glass or contain sand, you can't set it on fire. Smokers are easy to demonize when you don't understand their dilemmas. Don't worry we're pretty used to it. Most smokers I know understand their habit bothers people and do their best to not cause a burden on others. When society has set up rules that make it impossible to do something properly, don't be surprised when people don't.

[BHSPitMonkey]

So smush it properly with your shoe and then put it in your pocket until you get home or find a worthy receptacle. If I have a granola bar wrapper in my hand and there's no trash cans nearby, I don't throw it on the ground; I hold it in my hand/pocket/bag until I can dispose of it. Cigarette filters are not a special case in this thinking.

[spditner]

There is a category of products to help address that called a "portable ashtray", they can often clip on your key ring.

[astrodust]

5. "Carrying around a portable ashtray makes me all too aware of how filthy smoking is in the first place, so no way I'm going to do that."

6. "E-Cigarettes are for pussies."

Have you tried...not smoking? It's almost like the city is trying to tell you something.

[andymcsherry]

To all those that provided more suggestions, yeah there are other ways to deal with this.

You could carry a portable ashtray, sure. But your pockets are already stuffed, you're carrying your cell phone, wallet, keys, cigarettes and a lighter already. Plus those things stink. As a smoker, you already stink, and you're washing your hands, eating mints to futher ensure you don't bother the people around you with the smell of it.

You could extinguish it fully on the sidewalk. The same sidewalk that is pissed and shit on daily in San Francisco. I'd rather not touch my hands to it.

You're constantly demonized by the people around you. Random strangers call you callous in public forums. You're subject to the passive-agressive coughs, the glares from passer-bys and the occassional snarky comment.

The life of a smoker is one of constant inconvenience. Eventually, you just decide you've had enough. It's not worth it anymore. You throw your cigarette on the sidewalk and move on with your day. You don't feel good about it, and you wish you could of done better.

[kbutler]

Amazon solves your dilemma for $4.99

https://www.amazon.com/SmartDealsPro-Stainless-Portable-Circ...

You buy and carry the pack of cigarettes and the lighter, so the portable ashtray isn't a big additional expense or burden.

[dark_silicon]

Just to play devil's advocate here: you do have the alternative of not smoking.

(I dislike smoke, but if you're not blowing it around in a public place I don't particularly mind your decision to smoke)

[uoaei]

On every trash can ever, there's nowhere to put out a cigarette and you have no time to spend 5 extra seconds making sure it's out?

[kalleboo]

Get a portable ashtray from a dollar store

[lucasgonze]

Well, this is an eminently reasonable case, even though my basic instinct is to harass smokers however possible.

[always_good]

Scrape the burning cherry off or mash it into the concrete. It's cool enough to touch almost immediately, so it's certainly not going to be setting bins on fire.