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Cigarette Filter Waste/Cigarette Manufacturers: Baltimore, Maryland, Files Judicial Action Seeking to Recover Alleged Cleanup Costs/Damage to Natural Resources

November 30, 2022

By: Walter G. Wright

Category: Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law

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The City of Baltimore, Maryland, filed a November 21st Complaint in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City against five cigarette manufacturers and a distributor in regard to alleged losses/costs associated with tobacco product litter.

The Complaint has been filed against:

  • Philip Morris USA, Inc.
  • Altria Group
  • R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
  • British American Tobacco P.L.C.
  • Liggett Group LLC
  • The George J. Falter Company

Certain allegations in the Complaint state that cigarette filters:

  • Are the most common form of litter in the world
  • Are made of a non-biodegradable material
  • Contain toxic heavy metals and nicotine
  • Are expensive to clean up and such cost is externalized to the cities and towns
  • Are the largest number of individual items collected by Baltimore’s trash wheel program
  • Constitute a public nuisance

Baltimore seeks to recover:

  • Cleanup and disposal costs
  • Damage to natural resources
  • Diminution in property values
  • Loss of revenue
  • Fines for litter dumping

The Complaint includes claims for relief based on alleged:

  • Violation of the Maryland Illegal Dumping Litter Control Law
  • Violation of various Baltimore City Codes
  • Continuing Trespass
  • Strict Liability for Design Defect
  • Negligent Design Defect
  • Public Nuisance
  • Strict Liability Failure to Warn
  • Negligent Failure to Warn

A copy of the Complaint can be downloaded here.

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