Recent estimates suggest that between 30% and 50% of cigarette butts are littered by smokers. Whilst this is a big issue for the environment already, the remaining butts end up in landfill, because there are no other options.
Using population data, No More Butts has estimated that 4.5 billion cigarettes are consumed in Victoria each year. Assuming that up to half of this is littered, there are over 2.25 billion cigarette butts that make their way into landfill each year in Victoria.
A cigarette butt (tobacco filter) is made from cellulose acetate, a synthetic compound made by the acetylation of the plant substance cellulose. Unfortunately it is not biodegradable and can take up to 15 years to photodegrade.
After initially collaborating with research partner and mycologist, Fungi Solutions, No More Butts is now on a mission to see if cigarette butt waste has a value in various different circular streams. By designing a supply chain and engaging with interested businesses, we can identify if people are wiling to help recover this resource as we research potential uses after the normal life.
In late 2020, as part of their Research pillar, Australian Charity, No More Butts started investigating possible uses for all of the cigarette butt litter that they were collecting across Australia.
After some research into global projects, they set about finding an Australian company or research institute who could help remediate cigarette butts in Australia. As part of this hunt, they were introduced to someone in Victoria who had previously trialled cigarette butts as a source for a species of mushroom.
After proposing some ideas for collaboration, Fungi Solutions entered into a Services Agreement with No More Butts to provide myco-remediation services.
As an extension of this agreement, No More Butts identified several opportunities for small trial programs and deployed some across Wollongong, Cairns and in Western Australia. In 2022, No More Butts applied for a grant from Sustainability Victoria to scale their idea of collecting cigarette butt waste from businesses in Melbourne for remediation by their supplier. After a brainstorming session, the name CigCycle was identified and subsequently registered by No More Butts.
Our vision is for a world without tobacco waste. Click below to learn more about our mission.
Please reach us at info@cigcycle.com.au if you cannot find an answer to your question.
CigCycle is a collection and research program for cigarette butts.
Now that the free trial has concluded, interested businesses may reach out to learn more about the ongoing fees. We have single pick-ups and annual subscription models available.
If you are interested and eligible to participate, you will be provided with either a 30, or 55 litre bin, as well as some Biogone snap-lock bags to collect cigarette butts in.
Instead of emptying ash trays and dust pans full of cigarette butts into general rubbish, you will empty them into a snap-lock bag and then seal the bag and put it in the bin.
Whenever your bin is full, one of our friendly team members will come in and take any bags with butts in them, clean the bin and provide some more empty bags. They will collect some basic data, but unless you have any feedback, there won't be any requirement to do anything else.
The bin is the size of a household rubbish bin, so you'd only need a space that is 25 - 50 cm wide. We would recommend that you find a covered outdoor area with the other bins, but if you only have an indoor storeroom, then that should be sufficient. Although the bags are snap locked and there is a bin lid, there is a chance that the smells will escape, so we don't recommend you store it in the kitchen.
If you would like to get in touch, email us here.
Step 1 - Smokers deposit their cigarette butts into ash trays, as normal.
Step 2 - When collecting butts from ash trays, we suggest you wear gloves.
Step 3 - Place the butts into the provided snap lock compostable bags.
Step 4 - Place the snap lock bag in the provided CigCycle bin.
Step 5 - When your bin is nearly full, you can email, or call us. Your friendly CigCycle contact will come by to empty and service the bin, as well as collect valuable data and provide additional bags if needed.
Step 6 - Your butts are picked up and transported to our research partners. A this stage, this includes RMIT, James Cook University and Fungi Solutions.
Step 7 - The cigarette butts are used by our research partners in various research projects. So far, this has included mycelium remediation, biochar, asphalt aggregate and 3D printing. Further research is then carried out to measure the properties of the by-product.
Note: If the by-product is not suitable to use as a composite material for any recycled content programs, then it may be used for further research. Any excess butts may be landfilled. Whilst this is not a perfect solution, it will be a less toxic waste stream and exist for a shorter time in landfill than if it were not remediated.
Joint Media Release (pdf)
DownloadWe acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We recognise they have cared and maintained the beautiful environment for time immemorial. We would like to pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and extend that respect to all Indigenous communities.