In an innovative venture, a supporting capacity of Reynolds American Inc., the largest cigarette manufacturer in the U.S, has come up with a way to reward its consumers. The firm is contributing toward a nation-wide recycling program that recognizes people who clean cigarette remains and convert the butts of cigarettes into innovative eco friendly promotional items.
The companies involved in the program
The manufacturers of the popular cigarettes in America have partnered with recycling companies for environmental initiatives. The objective of the program adopted by cigarette companies such as Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company is to reduce the enormous amount of litter due to discarded cigarette butts. The butts are carelessly tossed on roads or discarded in ashtrays or trash bins. In this way, smokers are significantly polluting the terrestrial environment.
Cressida Lozano, the head of Santa Fe’s marketing and sales department said that the company was determined to reduce significantly, the environmental litter caused by cigarettes.
People above the age 21, can participate in the program, Cigarette Waste Brigade, set up for this purpose. Cigarette waste is collected, labeled, and shipped to TerraCycle. Participants are awarded credits for their effort, which will be contributed to America’s non-profit educational organization, KAB. About $1 is assigned for each pound of cigarette waste which is equivalent to 1000 butts of cigarettes.
Recycling cigarette waste into eco friendly promotional items
Terracycle, which is situated in New Jersey, recycles the cigarette waste and transforms them into useful products for use in railroad ties, park benches, and shipping pellets. Tobacco and paper are composted and ashtrays are also created out of the waste.
Tom Szaky, the Founder and CEO of TerraCycle, said that the program was a perfect answer to dispose cigarette waste that might otherwise find their way to landfills. The organization is striving hard to recycle the waste that is generally considered worthless.
It would pave the way for initiating other recycling activities as well. Most of the cigarette remains were found in storm drains, retail areas, construction sites, recreational areas, and loading docks.
Millions of cigarette butts are littered in American inland waterways and beaches. As cigarette trash is now recognized as valuable, measures have been beefed up to collect the waste from several areas.
A program for cigarette litter prevention was launched in 2003 by KAB. Toady, it has spread across nearly 50 American states. The program is supported by Winston-Salem cigarette company. Other environmental programs funded by various companies are used chip bags recycling program by Frito Lay Inc. and collection of dairy product containers by Kraft Foods Inc.
Source:http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-11-14/reynolds-subsidiary-funding-cigarette-recycling
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