PORTLAND, Ore. - Dozens of volunteers took to the streets of downtown Portland Saturday, all targeting the same thing: cigarette butts.

KGW

SOLV sponsored the first “Butt Hunt.” Organizers hope it will become an annual event.

“Cigarette butts are the most littered item in the world,” said spokesperson Sara Fritsch. “Over two billion butts are littered every day and they’re not bio-degradable. In fact, they take up to 12 years to break down and all the while, they’re releasing toxins into the Earth.”

In just two hours, volunteers picked up more than 25,000 cigarette butts, organizers said.

Along with the cleanup, they also want to educate the public about the harmful effects of cigarette littering.

The event was part of Earth Day observances. This year’s Earth Day is on April 22.