MASSENA -- Reality Check of St. Lawrence, Jefferson, and Lewis county teamed up with the Horizons club house at 56 Main St. to host a town-wide cigarette butt clean up recently.

Community leaders, members, and youth occupied a 0.5-mile radius of downtown’s Main Street where they collected tobacco litter and cigarette butts, said a Reality Check press release.

The organization said cigarette butts, which are not biodegradable, are littered daily and pose a threat to local wildlife, toddlers, and pets who often consume the litter. The cigarette litter contains harmful toxins left behind in the filters, the press release said.

Community leaders and members, and local youth collected six gallons worth of tobacco litter within 30 minutes at the clean-up held Wednesday, March 21.

Massena Mayor Timmy J. Currier participated in the event and was surprised by the amount of tobacco product found and appreciated the efforts of all that participated.

“I expected we would find a great deal of tobacco debris, but in the end it was very shocking to see six gallons collected in such a small area. I’m truly thankful to the kids at Horizons, the other volunteers that’s joined us and the staff. They can be very proud of their efforts,” Currier said.