A degradable cigarette filter includes a filter element of a bloomed cellulose acetate tow and a plug wrap surrounding the filter element, and a pill dispersed in the tow. The pill includes a material adapted to catalyze hydrolysis of the cellulose acetate tow that is encapsulated with an inner layer of a water soluble or water permeable material and an outer layer of a cellulose acetate having a D.S. in the range of 2.0-2.6.