How long does it take for cigarette butts to biodegrade?

Question

How long does it take for cigarette butts to biodegrade?

Answer 1

In a composting environment, the tobacco will degrade in a few months.  The paper, in a year or two.  Filters made of fairly natural cellulose would take somewhere between 2 and 10 years, depending on the environment.  See the reference for more detail.  Meanwhile, they're a disgusting and unnecessary mess.

Answer 2

If you mean the filters, it takes many years.    They are a real problem for the environment, yet smokers leave them everywhere.