Cigarette Waste

Cigarette butts are the most prevalent form of litter found in the environment globally.

Littered cigarette butts leach toxic chemicals and microplastics into the water and soil. Although one cigarette butt is small in size, they accumulate in the environment in such large quantities that they pose a threat to human and ecosystem health. 

EcoSuperior’s volunteers pick up tens of thousands of cigarette butts each spring, but that represents just a fraction of the cigarette litter that enters the environment.    

Many smokers have stated that they would use an ashtray if there was one available when they smoke outdoors. As part of the litter prevention program funded by the City of Thunder Bay’s Clean Green and Beautiful initiative, EcoSuperior is offering several programs and services designed to mitigate cigarette litter from our streets, including:

There are often times when smokers may find themselves without a proper receptacle for their cigarette waste. Our team at EcoSuperior is offering a great solution for that!

These pocket-packs provide you with a convenient and compact way to keep cigarette butts off the ground and out of our waterways for good. Whether on the go, in the car or boat, or on the trail- you can still have your cigarette and be litter-free. Pocket ashtrays are available by donation at the EcoSuperior office for Thunder Bay organizations, businesses and individuals.

For larger orders, contact rethinkingwaste@ecosuperior.org. 

With your help, we have recycled over 5 million cigarette butts since 2015.

Want to recycle the cigarette waste from your home? Our team has made that easy! You can collect your cigarette waste at home, and bring it to our office for recycling- free of charge!

Here's what you can bring us:

When we collect or receive your cigarette waste from your EcoSuperior Ashtray, your pocket ashtray, or at our drop off area- we send it to our friends at Terracycle for recycling! Here, they recycle your cigarette waste into a variety of industrial products. These include:

• Industrial products
• Plastic pellets
• Recycled tobacco for compost

For more information about our programs, please email rethinkingwaste@ecosuperior.org.
 
* This litter prevention program is made possible by the City of Thunder Bay’s Clean, Green & Beautiful Committee.