The world is my trashcan!

I enjoy chewing gum. I often have a piece in the car on my way to and from work. And when I'm done with the wrapper, I light it on fire and throw it out the window.

Everyday.

All the time.

What? Does that trouble you? Which part? The part where I throw trash out the window or the part where I light it on fire first?

Okay, then...

Let's say it's not a gum wrapper. Let's say it's a cigarette butt.

No, I don't smoke. But everyday, on my way to and from work, I witness at least one person throwing a lit cigarette butt out the vehicle window. Last time I checked, cigarette butts aren't biodegradable. They won't eventually just “go away”.

Often, the butt is still smoking. In the dark, I see the glowing embers fly. It is apparent the owner of this trash does not even attempt to crush the cigarette out before chucking it.

I understand cars today no longer have ashtrays. There is simply nowhere for a smoker/driver to properly dispose of their used up cigarette. If they tossed the butt in a trash container inside their own vehicle, there's a good chance the ash could set those contents on fire.

This obviously bothers me a great deal. Even the smokers I've talked with get upset with others who dump their butts this way.

What options do smokers have for disposing of their trash while driving? And is there anything the rest of us can do to get a message to the folks who throw their butts on the ground?

(This is not a smoking/non-smoking issue. Please focus your comments on what to do with the trash.)