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ELIMINATING THE IDEA OF WASTE®

Posts with term Cigarette Recycling Program X

World’s Most Littered Item Now Recycled Throughout Tennessee

TerraCycle Include USA Cigarette Recycling Program
Participating in TerraCycle’s Cigarette Recycling Program is KTnB’s latest effort to grow their socially-responsible, environmental programs.   SEATTLE (Waste Advantage): TerraCycle has joined forces with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and Keep Tennessee Beautiful (KTnB) to recycle the world’s most littered item – cigarette butts. After being shipped to TerraCycle, the waste received through the program is processed into plastic pellets for use in a variety of recycled products and Keep America Beautiful receives a $1 donation for every pound of cigarette waste collected.   Through this program, KTnB and the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development are not only addressing the nation’s most commonly littered item but also a form of potentially harmful plastic waste. As an early adopter of Keep America Beautiful’s (KAB) Cigarette Litter Prevention Program, several Tennessee organizations have been collecting cigarettes including the 16 Welcome Centers statewide, Bristol Motor Speedway, the annual CMA Awards, at state and local parks and throughout downtown Memphis since 2015.   Beginning in 2020, cigarettes collected at Tennessee Welcome Centers will be recycled through TerraCycle and two KTnB affiliates. Additionally, Keep Putnam County Beautiful-Clean Commission and Keep McMinn Beautiful launched cigarette recycling programs earlier this month. In order to divert as much cigarette waste from sidewalks, parks, landfills and shared waterways as possible, cigarette recycling receptacles have been placed in highly-traversed areas identified by cigarette litter scans.   “Since adding receptacles to Welcome Centers in 2016, we’ve made great progress in our cigarette litter prevention efforts. This was the logical next step. We thank TDOT, KTnB, KAB and others for allowing us to partner with them to combat this issue,” said Pete Rosenboro, Assistant Commissioner of Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. All of the collected waste collected through the Cigarette Recycling Program is shipped to TerraCycle for recycling. When processed, the paper and tobacco is separated from the filter and composted. The filter is  recycled into plastic pellets which can be used by manufacturers to make a number of products such as shipping pallets, ashtrays and park benches.   “Cigarettes remain the most littered item in our society today. We plan to utilize the $20,000 CLPP grant KTnB received this year to not only combat cigarette litter in our beautiful state, but also keep a lot of that litter out of our landfills by recycling via TerraCycle,” said KTnB’s Executive Director Missy Marshall. “This way we are improving our efforts to not only prevent, but recycle cigarette litter being collected at each TN Welcome Center and with our affiliates, creating positive revenue for Keep America Beautiful, as KAB receives a $1 for each pound of litter received by TerraCycle.”   Participating in TerraCycle’s Cigarette Recycling Program is KTnB’s latest effort to grow their socially-responsible, environmental programs. In addition to introducing cigarette recycling, KTnB works to set a sustainable-example through community garden maintenance, vacant lot restoration and education initiatives.   TerraCycle has collected hundreds of millions of cigarette butts globally. Additionally, through its various recycling programs, it has engaged over 200 million people across 20 countries to collect and recycle more than eight billion pieces of waste that were otherwise non-recyclable. Courtesy: www.wasteadvantage.com
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World’s most littered item now recycled throughout Tennessee

TerraCycle Include USA Cigarette Recycling Program
image.png MEMPHIS – TerraCycle, the world’s leader in the collection and repurposing of complex waste streams, has joined forces with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, Keep Tennessee Beautiful (KTnB) and Keep Putnam County Beautiful-Clean Commission to recycle the world’s most littered item – cigarette butts. After being shipped to TerraCycle, the waste received through the program is processed into plastic pellets for use in a variety of recycled products and Keep America Beautiful receives a $1 donation for every pound of cigarette waste collected. Through this program, KTnB and the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development are not only addressing the nation’s most commonly littered item but also a form of potentially harmful plastic waste. As an early adopter of Keep America Beautiful’s (KAB) Cigarette Litter Prevention Program, several Tennessee organizations have been collecting cigarettes including the 16 Welcome Centers statewide, Bristol Motor Speedway, the annual CMA Awards, state and local parks and throughout downtown Memphis since 2015. Beginning in 2020, cigarettes collected at Tennessee Welcome Centers will be recycled through TerraCycle and two KTnB affiliates. Additionally, Keep Putnam County Beautiful-Clean Commission and Keep McMinn Beautiful launched cigarette recycling programs earlier this month. In order to divert as much cigarette waste from sidewalks, parks, landfills and shared waterways as possible, cigarette recycling receptacles have been placed in highly traversed areas identified by cigarette litter scans. “Since adding receptacles to Welcome Centers in 2016, we’ve made great progress in our cigarette litter prevention efforts. This was the logical next step. We thank TDOT, KTnB, KAB and others for allowing us to partner with them to combat this issue,” said Pete Rosenboro, assistant commissioner of Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. All of the collected waste collected through the cigarette recycling program is shipped to TerraCycle for recycling. When processed, the paper and tobacco is separated from the filter and composted. The filter is recycled into plastic pellets which can be used by manufacturers to make a number of products such as shipping pallets, ashtrays and park benches. “Cigarettes remain the most littered item in our society today. We plan to utilize the $20,000 CLPP grant KTnB received this year to not only combat cigarette litter in our beautiful state, but also keep a lot of that litter out of our landfills by recycling via TerraCycle,” said KTnB’s Executive Director Missy Marshall. “This way we are improving our efforts to not only prevent but recycle cigarette litter being collected at each TN Welcome Center and with our affiliates, creating positive revenue for Keep America Beautiful, as KAB receives a $1 for each pound of litter received by TerraCycle. Participating in TerraCycle’s Cigarette Recycling Program is KTnB’s latest effort to grow their socially responsible, environmental programs. In addition to introducing cigarette recycling, KTnB works to set a sustainable example through community garden maintenance, vacant lot restoration and education initiatives. TerraCycle has collected hundreds of millions of cigarette butts globally. Additionally, through its various recycling programs, it has engaged over 200 million people across 20 countries to collect and recycle more than eight billion pieces of waste that were otherwise non-recyclable.
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Letters to the Editor: Another one for Brower

TerraCycle Include USA Cigarette Recycling Program
Citizens of Volusia County will make their voices heard during the August primary. My vote will go to Jeff Brower for Volusia County chair because he understands environmental problems we are facing and will work to fix them.
He believes in property-owner rights, but understands rezoning of properties often does not protect our wetlands, and overdevelopment comes with many problems. Our drinking water matters and is a priority to Jeff.
A lesser-known issue he has been working to find solutions for is commercial composting of biosolids. Biosolids are the sludge left over from wastewater-treatment plants. Currently, our biosolids are dumped on land in Central Florida, creating problems with toxic runoff. He found the Sustainable Generation System as a viable solution for composting biosolids that can safely be turned into a compost for public use.
Jeff understands the environmental problems caused by plastics. His plan is to add more garbage cans to the beach, pursue fines for littering, launch business-sponsored TerraCycle cigarette-butt collection, add water-refill stations, and implement an educational outreach program to raise awareness.
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Local Business Now Recycles The World’s Most Littered Item And Most Common Form Of Ocean Debris

TerraCycle Include USA Cigarette Recycling Program
TerraCycle, the world’s leader in the collection and repurposing of complex waste streams, has joined forces with Trane Technologies, a leading manufacturer of HVAC systems poised to address climate challenges through sustainability, to collect and recycle the world’s most littered item – cigarette butts.
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Through this program, Trane Technologies is not only addressing the nation’s most commonly littered item but also a form of potentially toxic plastic waste. The company currently maintains 10 receptacles placed in designated smoking areas throughout their Panama City facility. All of the collected waste is shipped to TerraCycle for recycling. When processed, the paper and tobacco is separated from the filter and composted. The filter is then recycled into plastic pellets which can be used by manufacturers to make a number of products such as shipping pallets, ashtrays and park benches. “The recycling program was started by the Trane Lynn Haven Green Team, an employee-led group at Trane with a passion for sustainability, after the idea was brought up by a member who saw the TerraCycle receptacles at the local beach and read about the impact they had in a news article,” says William Zinn, Trane Technologies representative. As the world’s most littered item, billions of cigarette butts get tossed on shorelines, park grounds and sidewalks across the United States every year. If not addressed, cigarette waste persists for years and poses a serious environmental threat as toxic chemicals leach into soil and bodies of water become contaminated with substances hazardous to marine life Participating in TerraCycle’s Cigarette Recycling Program is Trane Technologies’ latest effort to grow their socially-responsible, environmental initiatives. In addition to introducing cigarette recycling, the company has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 31 percent while increasing overall energy efficiency by 23 percent. Through these efforts, Trane Technologies is on-track to achieve carbon neutrality and reduce their customers’ carbon footprint by one gigaton in accordance with their 2030 Sustainability Commitment. “This recycling program was easy to set up and didn't require a real change in procedure as we were able to use the preexisting receptacles we have on-site. We hope to spread our message of this program and inspire people to make sure they are properly disposing of their cigarettes in the containers and not throwing them to the ground,” says Zinn. “We are proud of what we were able to do with this program, and are so excited to be partnering with TerraCycle to make a difference!” TerraCycle has collected hundreds of millions of cigarette butts globally. Additionally, through its various recycling programs, it has engaged over 200 million people across 21 countries to collect and recycle nearly eight billion pieces of waste that were otherwise non-recyclable. About Trane Technologies Trane HVAC air solutions. One of our main goals as an organization is to be a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable, and efficient environments. We know that it’s our responsibility to put the planet first. We are leading by example by changing the way we do business and setting lofty sustainable goals to accomplish by the year 2030. One of these goals is zero waste to landfill, which this recycling initiative helps us achieve.  About TerraCycle TerraCycle is an innovative waste management company with a mission to eliminate the idea of waste. Operating nationally across 21 countries, TerraCycle partners with leading consumer product companies, retailers and cities to recycle products and packages, from dirty diapers to cigarette butts, that would otherwise end up being landfilled or incinerated. In addition, TerraCycle works with leading consumer product companies to integrate hard to recycle waste streams, such as ocean plastic, into their products and packaging. Its new division, Loop, is the first shopping system that gives consumers a way to shop for their favorite brands in durable, reusable packaging. TerraCycle has won over 200 awards for sustainability and has donated over $44 million to schools and charities since its founding more than 15 years ago and was named #10 in Fortune magazine’s list of 52 companies Changing the World. To learn more about TerraCycle or get involved in its recycling programs, please visit www.terracycle.com.
 
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How to recycle, reuse and reduce

TerraCycle Include USA Cigarette Recycling Program
Recycle, reuse, reduce is becoming a popular phrase. What do these words mean and how does one make a difference?   Recycling is defined as the “process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products,” states the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Recycling is an easy step to take in helping sustain the environment for future generations, however, one must recycle right. This means cleaning the item and disposing it in the proper container.   There are several benefits to recycling including: reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills; helping create jobs in the recycling industry; preventing pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw materials; and saving energy.   In January, Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB) and Cooperative Teamwork and Recycling Assistance (CTRA) merged together and formed a new program called Keep Texas Recycling. Additional information can be found at: https://www.ktb.org/keeptexasrecycling.   TerraCycle is a “world leader in the collection and repurposing of complex waste streams” according to their website and they offer multiple programs and services to help eliminate waste. Keep Blanco Beautiful is currently a member of the TerraCycle Cigarette Waste Recycling Program and recycles the butts from the receptacles around the city’s historic district. More information can be found at Terracycle.org.   The definition of reuse is to use a product again for the same purpose it was created for and is usually not altered. A few examples of items to reuse include a washable cup/bottle, plates, utensils, and cloth napkins. Reusable bags are great for shopping at stores and eliminate the waste from plastic bags. “Recycled water generally refers to treated domestic wastewater that is used more than once before it passes back into the water cycle,” states the Wateruse website. Water can also be reused in different ways such as irrigation and rainwater collection. Donating items is also a form of reuse and is beneficial in several ways. These include: preventing usable goods from going into landfills; helping the community and those in need; and tax benefits may be available.   Lastly, reduce is defined as making something smaller or using less which results in a smaller amount of waste. The EPA states the “most effective way to reduce waste is to not create it in the first place.”   Reduction has a lot of benefits, such as: sustaining the environment for future generation; preventing pollution; and reducing the amount of waste that will need to be recycled. There are several simple ways to reduce waste like buying products you actually need and continuing to use the item or catching a carpool to work. One should try to purchase products with minimum packaging, but are durable and buy items in bulk. Rechargeable batteries and refurbished electronics are also ways to reduce waste.   A person can reduce the amount of water used daily by simply turning off the water while brushing one’s teeth and taking shorter showers. Opt out of unwanted catalogs and other junk mail; many organizations offer online paperless services. The EPA also recommends to “maintain and repair products, like clothing, tires and appliances, so that they won’t have to be thrown out and replaced as frequently.”   Recycling, reusing, and reducing products can really help make a positive impact on the environment for future generations.
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KBB members talk various projects in quarterly meeting

TerraCycle Include USA Cigarette Recycling Program
The Keep Blanco Beautiful second quarterly meeting took place after the beautification committee finished. The table and chairs were wiped down prior to the meeting and members were socially distant with masks at hand. The minutes from the January meeting were approved. Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB) is still not doing cleanups at this point, but the organization hopes to host its Fall Sweep event later this year. Keep America Beautiful (KAB) has launched a digital platform for their Great American Cleanup event. Both organizations are spreading the message to stay safe. KBB’s website and Facebook page are great sources for Blanco citizens. The group discussed briefly the ball moss in oak trees around the community. A recommendation was made to use a mix of soda and water, and spray the ball moss, which should kill the roots. The ball moss might not kill the tree itself, but it eventually smothers the tree. An awareness campaign on ball moss will begin shortly. Not much is being spent at this time with the pandemic; fertilizer, mulch, insecticides will need to be purchased. A brief discussion on possibly adding receptacles dedicated for cans only around the park took place next. Next, the group talked about the Town Creek Restoration Riparian project. The riparian is looking great and healthy. The trees and mulberries are doing well. Nothing has been removed from the heavy rain, and the water is actually flowing after rain. The beautification committee has been working from 9 a.m. to noon lately because the number of volunteers has decreased during the pandemic. Volunteers are needed; anyone can join. A new scene has been made for the Blanco Trail of Lights and it is still planned to take place in December. A brief Cigarette Litter Prevention Program (CLPP) discussion took place. The cigarette receptacles will be added to Google Maps soon to make it easier for everyone to know where they are. During the last collection, all of the receptacles contained butts, and 2,350 butts were collected. These were mailed to TerraCycle for recycling. Individual cleanups are encouraged and KBB has supplies to lend for these events.
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Volunteers go out in Fallbrook neighborhoods and clean up

TerraCycle Include USA Cigarette Recycling Program
Volunteers from the Keeping Fallbrook Litter Free group, which is part of the nonprofit Fallbrook Beautification Alliance, regularly go out in the community to clean up.   Earlier this summer, the group joined other socially-distanced volunteers as part of the 18th annual I Love A Clean San Diego’s Creek to Bay cleanup.   The Fallbrook effort was one of hundreds across San Diego County, which helped prevent tons of litter from getting into local creeks, bays and the ocean.   The Keeping Fallbrook Litter Free group of nearly 30 volunteers collected 714 pounds of trash, 702 pounds of recycling, including more than 1,000 cigarette butts which were separated to be recycled by Fallbrook Beautification Alliance’s recycling partner TerraCycle.   Visit fallbrookbeautification.org.
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You Can Recycle Cigarette Butts!

TerraCycle Include USA Cigarette Recycling Program
Did you know cigarette butts are not fully biodegradable? But there’s a solution: TerraCycle, the company that strives to find a way to recycle everything, offers a free Cigarette Waste Recycling Program. Just sign up with TerraCycle, collect the waste, and ship it to them for recycling.   When tossed on the street, the beach, or wherever they fall, cigarette butts take 18 months to 10 years to break down. Discarded butts leach chemicals and heavy metals, the same things that kill smokers, into the environment. They often wash down the street gutters, polluting our waterways and harming fish and other wildlife. Recycling cigarette butts is an important way to clean up after ourselves. It is good for the neighborhood or beach, and good for the planet.   Are you a smoker, or do you live or work with smokers? Or perhaps you’re one of our heroes who pick up cigarette butts from the beaches, parks, or neighborhood streets. Whatever your relationship with cigarettes, TerraCycle’s program is good news for those concerned with the waste they create.   What TerraCycle Accepts   The TerraCycle Cigarette Waste Recycling Program accepts extinguished cigarettes, cigarette filters, loose tobacco pouches, outer plastic packaging, inner foil packaging, rolling paper, and ash. To ensure proper recycling, don’t send any other waste with these materials. If you have paperboard packaging, recycle it through your local recycling program.   The service is free but you must provide your own containers. If you are a business or just want a convenient solution for packaging and shipping cigarette waste, TerraCycle also offers a variety of cigarette Zero Waste containers that include pre-paid shipping labels.   Do you have a business or community location where you’d like to collect butts? You can purchase fire-safe aluminum cigarette waste receptacles to install in high-traffic areas.        

Tips for Successful Recycling

  Make sure cigarettes are fully extinguished before you collect them.   Store the waste in a re-sealable plastic bag, disposable plastic container, plastic shopping bag, or garbage bag.   When ready to ship, secure the containers to seal in the odor and ash. Take the time to package carefully because it suppresses the odor for you and the people who handle it in transit.   Download a shipping label from TerraCycle, place your full containers in a sturdy box, and ship it to TerraCycle.  

How Are Cigarettes Recycled?

  With funding from Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, the cigarette waste that you collect gets recycled into a variety of industrial products, such as plastic pallets. Check out this infographic from TerraCycle that explains the process.   Learn more about the Cigarette Waste Recycling Program, or explore other free TerraCycle Recycling Programs.
Read More

You Can Recycle Cigarette Butts!

TerraCycle Include USA Cigarette Recycling Program
Did you know cigarette butts are not fully biodegradable? But there’s a solution: TerraCycle, the company that strives to find a way to recycle everything, offers a free Cigarette Waste Recycling Program. Just sign up with TerraCycle, collect the waste, and ship it to them for recycling.   When tossed on the street, the beach, or wherever they fall, cigarette butts take 18 months to 10 years to break down. Discarded butts leach chemicals and heavy metals, the same things that kill smokers, into the environment. They often wash down the street gutters, polluting our waterways and harming fish and other wildlife. Recycling cigarette butts is an important way to clean up after ourselves. It is good for the neighborhood or beach, and good for the planet.   Are you a smoker, or do you live or work with smokers? Or perhaps you’re one of our heroes who pick up cigarette butts from the beaches, parks, or neighborhood streets. Whatever your relationship with cigarettes, TerraCycle’s program is good news for those concerned with the waste they create.   What TerraCycle Accepts   The TerraCycle Cigarette Waste Recycling Program accepts extinguished cigarettes, cigarette filters, loose tobacco pouches, outer plastic packaging, inner foil packaging, rolling paper, and ash. To ensure proper recycling, don’t send any other waste with these materials. If you have paperboard packaging, recycle it through your local recycling program.   The service is free but you must provide your own containers. If you are a business or just want a convenient solution for packaging and shipping cigarette waste, TerraCycle also offers a variety of cigarette Zero Waste containers that include pre-paid shipping labels.   Do you have a business or community location where you’d like to collect butts? You can purchase fire-safe aluminum cigarette waste receptacles to install in high-traffic areas.  

Tips for Successful Recycling

  Make sure cigarettes are fully extinguished before you collect them.   Store the waste in a re-sealable plastic bag, disposable plastic container, plastic shopping bag, or garbage bag.   When ready to ship, secure the containers to seal in the odor and ash. Take the time to package carefully because it suppresses the odor for you and the people who handle it in transit.   Download a shipping label from TerraCycle, place your full containers in a sturdy box, and ship it to TerraCycle.  

How Are Cigarettes Recycled?

  With funding from Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, the cigarette waste that you collect gets recycled into a variety of industrial products, such as plastic pallets. Check out this infographic from TerraCycle that explains the process. Learn more about the Cigarette Waste Recycling Program, or explore other free TerraCycle Recycling Programs.
Read More

You Can Recycle Cigarette Butts!

TerraCycle Include USA Cigarette Recycling Program
Did you know cigarette butts are not fully biodegradable? But there’s a solution: TerraCycle, the company that strives to find a way to recycle everything, offers a free Cigarette Waste Recycling Program. Just sign up with TerraCycle, collect the waste, and ship it to them for recycling.   When tossed on the street, the beach, or wherever they fall, cigarette butts take 18 months to 10 years to break down. Discarded butts leach chemicals and heavy metals, the same things that kill smokers, into the environment. They often wash down the street gutters, polluting our waterways and harming fish and other wildlife. Recycling cigarette butts is an important way to clean up after ourselves. It is good for the neighborhood or beach, and good for the planet.   Are you a smoker, or do you live or work with smokers? Or perhaps you’re one of our heroes who pick up cigarette butts from the beaches, parks, or neighborhood streets. Whatever your relationship with cigarettes, TerraCycle’s program is good news for those concerned with the waste they create. What TerraCycle Accepts   The TerraCycle Cigarette Waste Recycling Program accepts extinguished cigarettes, cigarette filters, loose tobacco pouches, outer plastic packaging, inner foil packaging, rolling paper, and ash. To ensure proper recycling, don’t send any other waste with these materials. If you have paperboard packaging, recycle it through your local recycling program.   The service is free but you must provide your own containers. If you are a business or just want a convenient solution for packaging and shipping cigarette waste, TerraCycle also offers a variety of cigarette Zero Waste containers that include pre-paid shipping labels.   Do you have a business or community location where you’d like to collect butts? You can purchase fire-safe aluminum cigarette waste receptacles to install in high-traffic areas.          

Tips for Successful Recycling

  Make sure cigarettes are fully extinguished before you collect them.   Store the waste in a re-sealable plastic bag, disposable plastic container, plastic shopping bag, or garbage bag.   When ready to ship, secure the containers to seal in the odor and ash. Take the time to package carefully because it suppresses the odor for you and the people who handle it in transit.   Download a shipping label from TerraCycle, place your full containers in a sturdy box, and ship it to TerraCycle.  

How Are Cigarettes Recycled?

  With funding from Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, the cigarette waste that you collect gets recycled into a variety of industrial products, such as plastic pallets. Check out this infographic from TerraCycle that explains the process.   Learn more about the Cigarette Waste Recycling Program, or explore other free TerraCycle Recycling Programs.
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