Please note:
This recycling progam 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 Cigarette Waste Recycling Program.
Cigarette Waste Recycling Program
Recycle cigarette waste through this program.
- Participating locations
- 4,025
- Available locations
- 475
- Waste recycled
- 135,429,842
- Money raised
- $99,699.66
Recycling with TerraCycle®
Every year, billions of cigarette butts end up in dumpsters and landfills, or get tossed as litter on shorelines, parks, and sidewalks across Canada. The waste collected through this program is recycled into a variety of industrial products, such as plastic pallets, and any remaining tobacco is recycled as compost.
How it works
Participating is completely free and very easy.
When you are ready to send in a shipment, download a shipping label from your TerraCycle account by clicking "Ship us your waste" and follow the prompts. Your shipping label will be emailed to your inbox. Print out your label and tape it securely onto your box. Ship the box to TerraCycle by calling UPS at 1-800-PICK-UPS, informing UPS that you have a “Pre-paid Return Ship” label on a parcel that needs to be scheduled for a next business day pick up. Please ensure not to ship the box on your own UPS account, or you may be charged shipping fees.
What you can recycle
Program accepted waste: All parts of extinguished cigarettes, cigarette flters, 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
TerraCycle points can be redeemed for a variety of charitable gifts or a payment of $0.01 per point to the non-proft organization or school of your choice. To learn more about our points program, click here.
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.
TerraCycle is excited to partner with the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup to work together to clean up Canada’s shorelines and recycle cigarette waste! To learn more about this partnership and how to get involved, click here.
