Please note:
If you or your participants do not smoke, or are under the age of 21, please visit our other recycling programs to see how you can help the environment.
Cigarette Waste Free Recycling Program
All brands accepted
Recycle cigarette waste
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Extinguished cigarettes
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Cigarette filters
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Loose tobacco pouches
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Outer plastic and inner foil packaging
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Rolling paper
How it works
We’ve made getting started with the Cigarette Waste Free Recycling Program easy! Simply download a free shipping label to ship your cigarette waste to TerraCycle, and we’ll recycle it.
Important note: 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 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.
Collect
Create a TerraCycle account and join this program. Then reuse any box you have to start collecting your cigarette waste.
Request a shipping label
When your box is full, sign in to your TerraCycle account to download and print a prepaid shipping label.
Ship
Follow the special shipping instructions in the important note above. Then seal your box, affix the prepaid shipping label, and send it to us to be recycled.
Get started
Participating in this program is easy and FREE! See answers to frequently-asked questions here.
Send in extinguished cigarettes, cigarette filters, loose tobacco pouches, outer plastic packaging, inner foil packaging, rolling paper, and ash
Please note: We do not accept the paperboard packaging of a cigarette box. Instead, you may recycle this through your municipal recycling program.
No, the Cigarette Waste Free Recycling Program accepts cigarette waste from all brands.
It is important to pick an appropriate container to store your collected waste. To avoid odors, it would be best to collect your waste in an airtight container or by using an odor resistant/scented bag. Additionally, using odor absorbing substances such as baking soda or charcoal briquettes can help reduce odor if you put them in your waste container. When discarding your cigarettes, make sure you remove as much of the residual tobacco as possible, as the tobacco is the main source of odor. Lastly, make sure your waste is as dry as possible because moisture increases odor.
Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company has sponsored this free recycling program, so there is no direct cost to you.
We encourage you to ship when your box is full of cigarette waste to minimize the transportation carbon footprint for this program. UPS will not accept dripping packages, so please make sure your items are dry.
To collect and ship for the Cigarette Waste Free Recycling Program from home, simply empty the contents of your ash tray into a re-sealable plastic bag, disposable plastic container, plastic shopping bag, or garbage bag. Please make sure that the cigarettes are fully extinguished. Do not dump your cigarette waste directly into the shipping box and do not use paper bags or envelopes to collect your waste. Ship your collections to TerraCycle by downloading a free shipping label from your TerraCycle account. Ship the box to TerraCycle by affixing the free shipping label and dropping it off at a UPS location.
To collect and ship for the Cigarette Waste Free Recycling Program at your office or business establishment, empty the contents of your ash receptacle into a sturdy trash bag or thick garbage liner. Please make sure that the cigarettes are fully extinguished. Do not dump your cigarette waste directly into the shipping box and do not use paper bags to collect your waste. Ship your collections to TerraCycle by downloading a free shipping label from your TerraCycle account. Ship the box to TerraCycle by affixing the free shipping label and dropping it off at a UPS location.
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.
No, you do not need to clean the packaging before dropping it off, but please remove as much of the remaining product as possible before shipping.
Earn recycling rewards
For every pound of cigarette waste collected, Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company donates $1.00 towards the Keep America Beautiful Cigarette Litter Prevention Program.
Are you a Keep America Beautiful affiliate? Click here for additional information.
Discover our recycling process
Once collected, the cigarette waste is cleaned and separated by material type. The materials are recycled into raw formats that manufacturers use to make new products. The ash and tobacco are separated out and composted in a specialized process. Click here to take a virtual tour of our processing facilities.