Outdoor ashtrays can keep the harmful plastic from cigarette filters out of rivers, lakes, and oceans

Outdoor Ashtrays are becoming a necessity to combat the No. 1 source of litter and to prevent it from getting in our waterways.

How many times have you seen a Hollywood movie or TV show where the main actor tries to look cool as he takes a drag on a cigarette?  Then he flicks it off to the side.

Little do the directors of these movies realize they are promoting the No. 1 cause of litter in America - discarded cigarettes.

According to Keep America Beautiful, cigarette butts make up 38% of all litter

Outdoor ashtrays at parks and beaches are one way to alleviate the debate on smoking bans

Outdoor ashtrays are a smart strategy to consider in the debate on banning smoking from state and city parks and beaches.

The idea to outlaw smoking at parks and beaches continues to surface in different states around the US.

Gov. Jerry Brown of California recently vetoed, for the third time, a bill in his state that would have enacted such a ban.

The governor reportedly felt the bill amounted to overreaching by the government.

There are several issues involved.

Proponents of these bans argue about the dangers of secondhand smoke. Opponents say there are plenty of places in parks and beaches where people can avoid the smoke if they are concerned.

Another dispute is the possibility of forest

Dee Williams, manager of ReStore in Delray Beach stands by smoking urns donated by The Park Catalo

The Park and Facilities Catalog recently donated three smoking urns to Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County, a great cause that helps citizens achieve the American dream of owning a home or improving the one they're in.

Adding smoking urns to any location is a great cause as well because discarded cigarettes are the No. 1 source of litter in America.

First a little bit about Habitat for Humanity. The Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County is a non-profit organization

From PreventCigaretteLitter.or

An outdoor ashtray can have a huge impact on a common misconception when it comes to the state of litter in America.

Why? Because most people don't realize that discarded cigarette butts are the No. 1 source of litter. If you think about the number of smokers out there and how easy it is to toss a finished smoke, it starts to make sense. But did you know that discarded butts are nearly DOUBLE the next closest source of trash? DOUBLE. That includes every McDonald's wrapper and empty Mountain Dew bottle and a million other disposable items.

Those little burned down cigarettes are contributing in a major way to making part of your local park, shopping area, university, etc. into an