FLORENCE – Mayor Steve Holt announced that new Cigarette Butt Recycling Receptacles are being placed around the Florence- Lauderdale Government building and City Hall. The cigarette butts that are placed in these bins will be recycled into something new! Florence has partnered with a company called Teracycle that will recycle the butts at no cost and make a donation to Keep America Beautiful for each pound of butts recycled. The primary goal is to place effective disposal containers for cigarette butts to prevent litter. The secondary benefit is that they could be recycled.
How does it work?
Cigarette butts are placed in specific receptacles.
Butts are collected and mailed to Teracycle at no cost.
Tobacco is separated and removed from the filters.
Filters are sterilized, shredded, and melted.
The plastic pellets are used to make something new
such as plastic shipping pallets, railway sleepers and more.
Cigarette filters are full of toxins and those chemicals can leach into the ground and waterways. They should be disposed of properly. Mayor Holt said, “These small butts add up to our largest litter problem and can last up to 10 years. Please join in the effort to help Keep Florence Clean and Beautiful!”
Media Release/Sandra Morgan, Executive Assistant to the Mayor of Florence
