Environmental activist in Ranya collects over 85,000 cigarette butts

SULAYMANIYAH — An environmental activist in the Sulaymaniyah’s Raparin independent administration, Soran Hussein Abdullah, also known as “Soran Delpak,” has collected and documented over 85,000 cigarette butts in recent months as part of his mission to protect nature from toxic pollutants.

“I want to safeguard the environment from harmful substances,” Soran told 964media.

A graduate of the Environmental Studies Department, Soran resides in Chwarqurna and has dedicated 14 years to various environmental initiatives. Among his most notable efforts is the collection of cigarette butts, which he gathers daily from the public parks in Ranya which is the central city of the administration. “I spent four consecutive nights, working from evening until midnight, counting and organizing the butts, all of which I’ve stored in a container,” he said.

Soran aims to showcase the butts in an exhibition to highlight the alarming level of pollution caused by discarded cigarettes. “I initially estimated collecting 30,000 butts, but the recent count far exceeded that figure,” he explained. His work, he says, has underscored the extent of pollution in the region, calling it a “wake-up call to the nation about how deeply we are immersed in toxic waste.”

In addition to his collection campaign, Soran regularly cleans public streets, parks, and water channels and supports schools with environmental awareness initiatives. His efforts have earned him over 30 honors and recognitions from various institutions and figures. “The environment is a shared responsibility,” he said, emphasizing the need for collective action to combat pollution and preserve natural resources for future generations.