TerraCycle Canada Launches First National Collection and Recycling Program for Cigarette Waste
TORONTO, June 4, 2012 /CNW/ - A world leader in recycling hard-to-recycle waste, ranging from food and beverage packaging to hospital waste, TerraCycle takes its goal of outsmarting waste one step further with another environmental breakthrough: the launch of a free program to collect and recycle cigarette waste in Canada. The Cigarette Waste Brigade® program -- in partnership with Canada's largest tobacco manufacturer -- will divert used cigarette butts, along with cigarette foil and plastic packaging waste, from landfills.
Cigarette filters were the number one item recovered during the annual Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup™ in 2011, with 351,238 collected. Contrary to popular belief, cigarette butts are non-biodegradable and do not break down quickly. This program will make this pervasive waste easily recyclable for the first time. The collected waste will be recycled into plastic pallets for industrial use. By making pallets from recycled cigarette waste, TerraCycle will not only reduce the amount of litter in Canada, but also reduce the need to use wood or virgin plastic to make commonly used industrial pallets. The organic parts of the waste -- the paper and remaining tobacco -- will be composted.
"This is one of the most exciting developments in TerraCycle's history," says Toronto-native and TerraCycle Founder, Tom Szaky. "As a company committed to recycling waste streams that others deem worthless or unsavoury, cigarette waste will help to promote our belief that everything can and should be recycled."
Everything but the recyclable cardboard box is accepted. Filters can be collected in receptacles -- like ashtrays -- as usual. Collectors then deposit the waste in a plastic bag which gets recycled as well. Once enough waste is collected, participants log into their account and print a free prepaid UPS shipping label to return their box at no cost. Once TerraCycle Canada receives the shipment, the participant's account will be credited with 100 points (equal to $1) per pound of waste received. The points can be used to purchase charity gifts or converted to cash for donation to a charity or non-profit of the collector's choice.
TerraCycle has already kept more than two billion pieces of waste from going to landfill, and with its partners, dispersed more than $3.5 million to charity through its various Brigade® programs. This newest program joins 15 others on offer in Canada. TerraCycle is currently creating solutions for other difficult-to-recycle but widely discarded waste streams, such as disposable diapers and used chewing gum. To sign up and for more information on how to send in waste, visit www.terracycle.ca.
About TerraCycle
TerraCycle, Inc. is an international upcycling company that takes difficult-to-recycle packaging and turns it into affordable, innovative products. Founded in 2001 by Toronto native Tom Szaky, TerraCycle is the world leader in the collection and reuse of non-recyclable post-consumer waste. The waste is collected through TerraCycle's Brigade® programs, which pay individuals and groups for every piece of waste they collect and return. To learn more, visit www.terracycle.ca.
Denise Barnard, Communications Manager
TerraCycle Canada
416-661-9676 or 800-758-2943
[email protected]
Albe Zakes, Global VP, Media Relations
TerraCycle, Inc.
866-967-6766
Albe@terracycle.com
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