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How to Recycle Cigarette Waste

How to Recycle Cigarette Waste

Cigarette Butts are the most commonly littered item in Australia.

Clean Up Australia has a new initiative with Australia Post in attempt to minimise cigarette butt waste. Smokers can dispose of their cigarette butts in a free specially marked Australia Post satchel and send them in to be responsibly disposed. Apply online at cleanup.org.au/ to receive a free cigarette butt collection satchel.

Cigarette butts are recycled through TerraCycle, an upcycling and recycling company. Extinguished cigarettes, cigarette filters, rolling paper, ash, and inner foil packaging are accepted through this cigarette recycling scheme.

You can also send your butts direct to Terracycle by requesting one of their cigarette waste boxes

Cigarette cardboard packaging can be placed in your council recycling bin.

Soft plastic shell can be placed with your soft plastics to take with you to the supermarket soft plastic recycling through Coles or Woolworths



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Science Notes
TerraCycle recycles cigarette butts they receive by separating the plastic and organic matter. 

The plastic is able to be recycled to make industrial plastic products, including shipping pallets, railway sleepers and ashtrays.The organic materials are disposed of through industrial composting. 

Related Tip
TerraCycle also specialises in recycling: 
  • Hand wash pumps, beauty product pumps, facial wipe packaging, and beauty product tubes with the Cleaning Packaging Brigade.
  • Nespresso coffee capsules with the Nespresso Coffee Capsule Brigade.
  • Toothbrushes, toothbrush packaging, floss containers, toothpaste tubes and packaging with the Oral Care Brigade.