The cigarette disposal bins that turn heads in downtown Salem have won an innovation award. SALEM, MA – They make bar goers do a double take, and keep Salem streets a little cleaner. The city's Park Your Butts program, which aims to increase cigarette recycling, was relaunched in July 2016 with new artwork and its new slogan. The relaunch was awarded a Massachusetts Municipal Association Innovation Award in February,according to The Beacon. Dominick Pangallo, Salem's chief of staff, said the new bins were also relocated to places that might draw more use – and its been working. The MMA article noted that the new bins are roughly half-full when they're collected each week. The bins were originally put out in 2015, and fixed roughly a year later to improve use. The MMA said for every pound of cigarette waste in the bins, Terra Cycle donates $1 to Salem Main Streets.

They foul our water and harm marine life and birds,” stated Susan Yochelson, a member of SalemRecycles and Outreach Coordinator for Salem Sound Coastwatch, in the announcement. Salem kicked off the campaign in September of 2015, placing bins around downtown with yellow decals. The butt bins are later emptied and sent to New Jersey based Terra Cycle, where they are recycled into plastic goods.

Titled “Park Your Butts,” the campaign puts cigarette butt recycling receptacles — butt bins — in strategically picked locations downtown. Once full, butts are sent to New Jersey-based TerraCycle, where they are recycled into industrial-grade plastic goods. “Cigarette butts are a regular nuisance in Salem,” said Mayor Kim Driscoll.

TerraCycle's Cigarette Waste Brigade has collected nearly 36 million units of cigarette butts to date. By using funding from Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, TerraCycle has the ability to turn the cigarette waste into plastic pellets, while composting the leftover tobacco. Additionally, for every pound of cigarette waste collected, Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company donates $1 to the Keep America Beautiful Cigarette Litter Prevention Program.

Butt bins for cigarette recycling have been placed around the downtown area and labeled with bright yellow decals to make them visible. Once full, butts are sent to New Jersey-based TerraCycle, where they are recycled into industrial-grade plastic goods. Future plans for “Park Your Butts” include enlisting the help of local business owners and Salem residents to increase the usage of the bins and to expand the program outside of the downtown district to city parks and other neighborhoods.

Butt bins for cigarette recycling have been strategically placed around the downtown area and labeled with bright yellow decals to make them visible. Once full, butts are sent to New Jersey based TerraCycle, where they are recycled into industrial-grade plastic goods.