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.
We 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.
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