If that cost is the cost of an employer then the cost is at least twice the pay the person doing the work would get. E.g. to run an operation where someone is p

If that cost is the cost of an employer then the cost is at least twice the pay the person doing the work would get. E.g. to run an operation where someone is paid $10/h your cost is likely $20/h including insurance/clothes/transport and other overheads for the employer (Payroll taxes alone are usually around 50% on top of the hourly pay). So if the cost is a dime then a cigarette butt picker might make 5c which isn't as great. It's 200 butts/h for minimum wages.