Please note:
This recycling program is only open to participants over the age of 19. Please make sure you or your participants are 19 years of age or older before signing up for the UNSMOKE Cigarette Waste Recycling Program.
UNSMOKE Cigarette Recycling Program
Recycle cigarette waste through this program.
- Participating locations
- 5,397
- Waste recycled
- 159,170,432
Recycling with TerraCycle®
Did you know cigarette butts are the most littered item in the world? Every year, 4.5 trillion cigarette butts get tossed as litter on shorelines, parks, and sidewalks.
In this national recycling program for cigarette waste, you can recycle from home by joining the program and downloading a free shipping label!
Share this program with your friends!
How it works
Participating is completely free and very easy.
If there are no public drop-off points near you, join this program and download a free shipping label to send your collections to TerraCycle.
Once you have joined the program and are ready to send in a shipment, download a shipping label by clicking the green "Ship us your waste" box above and follow the prompts. Your shipping label will be emailed to your inbox. Print out your label and tape it securely onto your box then call UPS at 1-800-742-5877 to schedule a next-day pickup.
What you can recycle
Program accepted waste: All parts of extinguished cigarettes, cigarette filters, cigar stubs, outer plastic packaging, inner foil packaging, rolling paper and ash.
Please note: we do not accept the cardboard packaging of a cigarette box. Instead, you may recycle this through your municipal recycling program.
Recycling guidelines
In order to recycle this waste stream properly, make sure the cigarettes are fully extinguished. Please do not dump your cigarette waste directly into the box you plan to ship them in. Additionally, do not use paper bags to collect your waste. Instead, collect cigarette waste using sturdy plastic containers or bags. You must also ensure that your shipment is completely dry. You cannot ship dripping packages.
Cigarette Waste Receptacles
You can order exclusive receptacles designed specifically for recycling cigarette waste in your community or at your business location.
Receptacles are perfect for standardizing cigarette recycling in small or large-scale outdoor environments. These metal receptacles can be equipped with steel bolt bands for flexible placement at your location.
Click here for more information.
What happens to your recyclables
Once collected, the cigarettes and packaging are separated by composition and melted into hard plastic that can be remolded to make new recycled industrial products, such as plastic pallets. The ash and tobacco are separated out and composted in a specialized process. Click here to learn more about the recycling process.
Rewards
TerraCycle Points
Shipments in the UNSMOKE Cigarette Recycling Program must be at least 3 pounds to earn TerraCycle points. For all qualifying shipments, 100 points per pound will be awarded.
Awarded TerraCycle points can be allocated toward a variety of charitable gifts or redeemed as a payment of $0.01 per point to the non-profit organization or school of your choice.
To learn more about our points program, click here.
Promotions and contests
The UNSMOKE Sign-up Sweepstakes
Recycling Program:
UNSMOKE Cigarette Recycling Program, UNSMOKE Local Recycling Solutions Program
Timeline:
July 15 - September 15, 2021
Prize:
TerraCycle Points
How to win:
Sign up for program or become a public location
Resources
Need help getting started? From downloadable posters to videos and guides, there are plenty of resources available to help you make an even bigger difference on the environment.
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To further your zero waste initiatives, you may be interested in some of our additional programmes.
