NEWS RELEASE
August 10, 2022

For Immediate Release

A GREENER FUTURE INTRODUCES COMMUNITY BUTT RECYCLING PROGRAM

• A Greener Future launches the Community Butt Recycling Program in London, Ontario aiming to prevent cigarette butt litter from entering the environment

• To date, A Greener Future’s volunteers have picked up over 3 million cigarette butts up off the ground across Canada and aim to reduce and stop cigarette litter at its source

• In partnership with TerraCycle, all cigarette butts collected will be sent to be recycled and repurposed into recycled products

LONDON, ON— A Greener Future is launching a Community Butt Recycling Program, a brand-new initiative, on August 13th, 2022. Known for leading impactful Butt Blitz cleanups where they collect cigarette butt litter, this new program continues these efforts while also preventing cigarette waste from ending up in the environment. With the goal of raising awareness and educating communities about the impact this litter has, the program will provide long-term recycling opportunities for individuals who smoke as well as businesses interested in taking part.

Five million Canadians smoke cigarettes regularly, and 8,000 tonnes of cigarette butts are disposed of every year across the country. While smoking is a personal choice, the waste created as a result has negative effects on ecosystems, wildlife, and human health.

“Cigarette filters are made out of cellulose acetate, which is a type of plastic, so when they break down, they just break into smaller and smaller pieces, they don’t go away,” says Rochelle Byrne, Executive Director/Founder of A Greener Future. “So, it’s something we want to keep away from wildlife and keep out of our drinking water.”

Cigarette butts account for 1 in 5 pieces of litter A Greener Future volunteers find at cleanups. Failing to properly dispose of butts is a fire hazard and also allows toxins to leach into the environment. Through the Community Butt Recycling Program, individuals can recycle their cigarette waste, keeping it out of the environment, and volunteers can help by participating in Butt Blitz cleanups. The next cleanup event takes place on August 13th at 10 am as a celebratory event to launch the new program.

A Greener Future will ensure the collected cigarette butts are properly recycled through their partner, TerraCycle Canada, at which point they will be repurposed into recycled products. 

FOLLOW THE COMMUNITY BUTT RECYCLING PROGRAM PROGRESS

To get register and/or stay up-to-date on the Community Butt Recycling Program, visit A Greener Future’s website. Follow A Greener Future on Facebook and Instagram for a behind-the-scenes look at the community members supporting this valuable initiative. 

ABOUT A GREENER FUTURE

Founded in 2014, A Greener Future is a non-profit organization whose mission is to work within local communities to promote environmental protection through organized litter cleanups, educational programs, and events. A Greener Future is committed to creating a clean, healthy environment for future generations. To learn more, visit A Greener Future at www.agreenerfuture.ca and see A Greener Future on Facebook and Instagram.

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, cities, and facilities 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. To learn more about TerraCycle, visit www.terracycle.com. 

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Rochelle Byrne, Executive Director/Founder
705-791-5358 | rochelle@agreenerfuture.ca

Laurel McLeod, Communications Assistant
905-808-9541 | laurel@agreenerfuture.ca

Samantha Brewer, PR Assistant
289-788-6454 | samantha@agreenerfuture.ca