CIGARETTE WASTE IS NOW RECYCLABLE IN AUSTRALIA

TerraCycle's Cigarette Waste Recycling Program launches nationally on Clean Up Australia Day

Sydney, 2 March 2014 – For the very first time, cigarettes can now be recycled in Australia. An innovative solution developed by TerraCycle will help eliminate cigarette waste, diverting it from litter and landfills and turning it into new sustainable materials.   More than 6,000 Australia Post satchels have been circulated for Clean Up Australia events, allowing volunteers, including businesses and community groups to safely collect cigarette waste on Clean Up Australia Day and send it to TerraCycle to be recycled. The program will then continue beyond this great event. Any group, workplace or individual over the age of 18 can sign-up to the Cigarette Waste Brigade® and collect cigarette waste at home or work, and send it to TerraCycle at no cost, to have it recycled into industrial products such as plastic shipping pallets and railway sleepers. For every kilogram of cigarette waste that TerraCycle receives, $2.00 will be donated to the collectors’ nominated charity. The Cigarette Waste Brigade® enables consumers to take responsibility for their cigarette waste. TerraCycle's Cigarette Waste Brigade® programs currently run in eight other countries. Tackling cigarette waste demonstrates TerraCycle’s belief that everything can and should be recycled! TerraCycle CEO and Founder, Tom Szaky said “TerraCycle takes up a challenge by recycling difficult waste streams that others deem worthless and turns them into new sustainable materials.” Cigarette butts are not biodegradable and do not break down quickly.  The Cigarette Waste Brigade® will make this pervasive waste recyclable for the first time in Australia. Tobacco companies, British American Tobacco, Imperial Tobacco Australia and Philip Morris Ltd, saw this program as one way of addressing the problem of cigarette waste and are providing funding to run the program. TerraCycle Australia will also collect other difficult to recycle waste streams, working with major brands: Colgate to recycle used toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes and other oral care waste, Natures Organics to recycle used cleaning, laundry and beauty packaging waste, and with Nespresso to expand their recycling program for their coffee capsules. Tom Szaky will also be speaking about TerraCycle recycling programs at community lectures at the University of Sydney (3 March) and Australia Post, Melbourne (5 March).