L.E.A.D. · Home × School × Society

Turning cigarette butts into youth civic action

A youth-led civic action lab that turns the world’s most littered plastic waste—cigarette butts—into data, art, and real policy change. By the Earth Sustainability Civic Action Association (Earth Action)

About Annual Impact Journey Partnerships Global Media Honor Roll Gallery Articles
30,000+
Butts collected
41,000+
People reached
15+
Awards won
85,000+
YouTube views
2026

Annual Impact

15,000+
Butts collected this year
24
Actions held
4,000+
People engaged
10+
Media features
About

About the No Butts Alliance

The No Butts Alliance is a youth-led civic action initiative that uses the overlooked problem of cigarette butt pollution as a vehicle for civic education, social-emotional learning (SEL), and environmental policy advocacy. Within a “Home × School × Society” co-learning ecosystem, our L.E.A.D. model transforms students from “cleaners” into “policy stakeholders.”

L

Link

The “Butt Hunter” app turns cleanups into citizen science, converting invisible toxic waste into visible data.

E

Empower

A 24-session curriculum blends art, social studies and SEL, using the NPDL 6C framework to grow empathetic, resilient change-makers.

A

Advocate

Youth serve as representatives at every level, hosting Action Forums that bring data to the Ministry of Environment and legislators.

D

Drive

The “Home×School×Society” model is built for replication, reaching Canada and Japan to drive a global planetary-health network.

From Alliance to Association

Earth Sustainability Citizen Action Association(Earth Association)

After three years of the No Butts Alliance’s work with children and youth, we set out to establish the “Earth Sustainability Citizen Action Association” (in short, the Earth Association) with the Ministry of the Interior — formally taking on legal-entity status to walk alongside young people, heal the Earth’s wounds, and build a beautiful future planet.

Journey

Our Journey

2019

No Butts action begins

The Wilderness Conservation Association’s North-5 group starts collecting cigarette butts — a tradition passed down year after year.

2023

A question from six 6th-graders

“If children pick up butts, will adults stop littering?” — the question that sparked the alliance.

2024

MediaTek Top 20 nationally

The Butt Hunter App and citizen science reach MediaTek’s national Top 20.

2025

National English Division champions

1st place in the national English division, plus Education Innovation 100 & Taiwan 100.

2025

Standing in Parliament

Youth representatives advocate to the Legislative Yuan and Ministry of Environment.

2026.01

Exchange in Hyogo, Japan

A Taiwan Day in Hyogo, Japan — covered by NHK and local newspapers.

2026.07.04

No Butts Day Taiwan

Joining the global No Butts Day at the Yilan Wetland Arts Festival.

Partnerships

Public–Private Partnerships

Built on a “Home × School × Society” model, the alliance works with government, legislators, schools and civil-society groups to turn street data into public policy.

Legislature & Representatives

Working with legislators Lin Yueh-chin, Chang Ya-ling and Wu Hao-han on a Children’s Day press conference, Legislative Yuan visits, and cigarette-butt policy proposals. The 3rd Children’s Action Forum was invited to the Legislative Yuan.

Ministry of Environment

Invited to the launch of the national Ocean Policy White Paper and to host a Youth Climate Forum at the Presidential Office — a trusted partner in national policy.

Rotary District 3521

A “No Butts” street-cleaning service with Rotary in Taipei’s Dihua Street commercial district — public–private community action.

School Partnerships

Letters of intent with Sanchong Senior High and Sanhe Junior High, plus outreach at schools such as Fengzhu Junior High.

Civil-Society Groups

Connecting with NGOs like the Wilderness Conservation Association and Re-think to advance environmental education and beach cleanups.

Global

Global Connections

Starting from Taiwan, we connect with youth and organisations worldwide so Taiwan’s environmental action is seen globally.

Netherlands · No Plastic Filter

Partnering with Dutch NGO No Plastic Filter to advocate banning plastic filters and co-hosting the global No Butts Day every July 4th.

Japan · Yumegaoka JHS (Hyogo)

Three Taiwan–Japan video exchanges, a winter trip to Japan, a cigarette-butt cleanup in Kyoto, and a Taiwan Day in Hyogo covered by NHK and local press.

Canada Chapter

A cross-border youth chapter sharing the No Butts action through regular online exchanges, bringing the model to North America.

HundrED · Global Education Community

Taking part in Finnish education organisation HundrED’s global community as a youth reviewer and ambassador, connecting with innovative educators worldwide.

Global Youth Dialogue

Interviews and exchanges with students and designers from Korea,Spain, and the USA— linking a worldwide planetary-health movement.

Taiwan Climate Week · No Butts Day

As a collaborating partner in Taiwan Climate Week, the alliance joined the Dutch No Plastic Filters global campaign, hosting No Butts Day in Yilan on July 4th — its cleanup and rapid-test data feed directly into a global world map alongside 25 countries including Australia, Canada and the Philippines.

Media

Media Coverage

Honor Roll

Honor Roll

2024
Challenge: Change the World
Participation Award (Certificate & Medal)
Taiwan DFC (Design for Change)
2024
Children’s Public Welfare Initiative
Honorable Mention
Maria Foundation
2024
13th Love the World
Excellence Award
King Car Cultural & Educational Foundation
2024
Wilderness Action Forum — Youth Division
1st Place
Wilderness Conservation Association
2024
Community as Home
Model Award
Sinyi Realty
2024
Wisdom in the Hometown
Top 20 Nationally — Vitality Award
MediaTek Foundation
2025
14th Love the World
Merit Award
King Car Cultural & Educational Foundation
2025
Challenge: Change the World
National Top 20
Taiwan DFC (Design for Change)
2025
Wilderness Action Forum — English Division
1st Place, National English Division
Wilderness Conservation Association
2025
Education Innovation 100
Education Innovation 100 Recipient
CommonWealth Education Media
2025
Future Education — Taiwan 100
Taiwan 100 Recipient
Global Views Media
2025
Sustainable Taiwan — Creative Proposals
Judges’ Special Award (ASE Prize)
CommonWealth Magazine
2026
15th Love the World
National Winner — Environmental Category
King Car Cultural & Educational Foundation
2026
Taishin Volunteer Hero Award
Community Impact Award
Taishin Bank Foundation
Articles

All Articles

Presented by

地球永續公民行動協會

Earth Sustainability Citizen Action Association

The No Butts Alliance is a flagship youth civic-action initiative of the Earth Sustainability Citizen Action Association.

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No Butts Alliance

Turning cigarette butts into youth civic action

Presented by
Earth Association(short name)
Earth Sustainability Citizen Action Association