Spain tells public to 'never' throw away object as urgent new rule issued today

Daily Record

a day ago

Spain is a popular destination for Brits at this time of year, but the country's General Directorate of Civil Protection and Emergencies account has issued a warning to those in the area
Spanish authorities have issued a directive to all individuals in the country as of today, June 4, amid heightened forest fire alerts. The European hotspot, favoured by many UK holidaymakers, sees its General Directorate of Civil Protection and Emergencies X account providing regular updates to its followers on the latest warnings.
The account informed its 66.8k followers earlier today about Spain's current " forest fire risk situation." Warnings have been issued that certain areas of the Canary Islands remain at high risk for forest fires following the government's declaration of a 'state of pre-alert' at the beginning of the week.
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This pre-alert came into force at 7am on Sunday, June 1, and encompasses Tenerife, El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, and Gran Canaria. Aemet, Spain's national meteorological service, has released maps indicating that the northern regions of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are especially prone to wildfires.
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The northern territories of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are subject to 'extreme' red warnings for wildfires, with the northern part of Fuerteventura also under a 'very high' amber alert for June 4, signifying the height of the risk. The remainder of both islands carry yellow 'high' warnings, reports Glasgow Live.
Additionally, the southern coast of Tenerife is under a 'very high' amber alert. The map is available for viewing here.
Forest fires in Spain are most prevalent during the summer months, typically igniting in early June and continuing for about 22 weeks. The height of fire season is often considered to be from July through September.
Although summer presents the highest danger, fires can ignite at any time of the year, with some seasons commencing even earlier than usual.
On platform X, Spain's Protección Civil account took action, issuing a crucial command to citizens, stating: "Never throw cigarette butts or rubbish in the mountains, prevention is everyone's job."
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Discarded cigarette ends are a known cause of forest blazes, especially under arid conditions. A smouldering cigarette end can easily ignite parched vegetation, sparking wildfires that may swiftly spread.
Litter is another culprit contributing to such conflagrations. Certain types of refuse, like glass containers, could act akin to magnifying lenses, concentrating solar rays enough to set alight tinder-dry flora.
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Furthermore, the combustion of refuse, particularly synthetic materials and plastics, emits noxious contaminants and poses a serious risk of inciting wildfires if mishandled. In Spain, discarding cigarette ends, even amidst mountainous terrains, is prohibited by law.
Regulations compel tobacco firms to assume the role of clearing up these butts and enlightening the masses regarding this peril.
These regulations form part of a wider initiative to cut waste and promote sustainability, which also includes bans on certain single-use plastics. Spain has introduced laws that make tobacco companies responsible for collecting and properly disposing of used cigarette butts.
These firms must also educate consumers about the environmental impact of discarding cigarette butts. Cigarette butts, especially those with cellulose acetate filters, can take an extended period to decompose and contribute to microplastic pollution.
These rules are part of a more comprehensive strategy to reduce waste and encourage sustainability, which involves banning single-use plastic utensils and straws. The new guidelines also aim to raise public awareness about this issue and discourage the littering of cigarette butts.