Australians are no longer accepting this behaviour

Australians are fed up with one particular act, with one irrate person calling out anyone guilty of committing the crime.

Australians are fed up with one particular act, with one irrate person calling out anyone guilty of committing the crime.

An image shared to Reddit showed a pile of cigarette butts on the pathway of a Sydney street. The image particularly irritated one social media user.

“Can I slap these people when I see them do this or is it still illegal even if they’re pure scum. The bin and ashtray is five metres away,” Reddit user Big and Delicious wrote.

In New South Wales, cigarettes are one of the most common items disposed of through littering. Littering is a crime and someone can cop a fine between $250 and $2200, according to Sydney Criminal Lawyers.

Aggravated littering — throwing items such as needs and lit cigarette butts — can cost up to $3300.

And, many people agreed with the content creator about being sick of the behaviour.

“Even as someone who smokes, it’s disgusting. As you said, only a few metres to the bin. Even still, just put it out and take it with you till you find a bin. Simples,” one social media user said.

Picture of cigarette butts has angered Australians. Picture: Reddit/u/biganddelicious

Another added: “Legally no. Morally yes.”

“We should introduce littering laws like in Singapore. On the spot fines and community service cleaning up on the weekend,” one said.

One social media user commented: “Wear a Batman costume and it should be fine.”

“There’s a few good ones in that pile, I’m amazed no one’s gone through them already,” another said.

One commented: “The door handle in my car has a few butts in it because I’m the same, could never just drop it and walk off.

“I bend over put it out on concrete or road and then stash the butt in my car or handbag until I find a bin. I don’t understand how people can just drop one and walk off.”

“I’d have no issue with smokers if they kept that shit away from other people and put their butts in the bin. Alas, I don’t know the last time I saw one finish a ciggie and not litter,” another said.

Throwing away lit cigarettes is a hefty fine. Picture: iStock

One commented: “Remember what it was like 30 years ago … they were everywhere!”

“I was in the CBD the other day and was chaining my bike to a pole next to a building. The ground was absolutely littered in cigarette butts,” one recalled.

“When I came back 20 minutes later there was a guy standing next to my bike having a cigarette. I said ‘Lot of cigarette butts on the ground here, but you definitely wouldn’t be one of the people who litters would you?’ He just smirked at me.”

Last year, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare revealed that less than 10 per cent of Australians are smoking daily. Meanwhile, vaping has tripped between 2019 and 2023.

“Smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in Australia, so it’s encouraging that we continue to see a decrease in the use of tobacco by people in Australia,” said AIHW spokesperson Dr Gabrielle Phillips at the time.