Filters to Fibres

Four and a half trillion cigarettes are littered every year, making them the most littered item in the world (Kuta, 2024). The purpose of my project was to find an easy and affordable way for other companies to produce the equipment needed to recycle cigarette butts, as there is currently no Canadian-based recycling organization (Terracycle, 2026). That is what inspired me to do this project, realizing how badly cigarettes are harming the environment and how there is no way to stop it. My question was which grinder and emulsifiers can most easily turn cigarette butts into a recyclable material? The people who would be affected by my project would be local communities, as they would have safer, cleaner streets and public places. Also, cities and governments would be positively affected as this would reduce public cleanup costs (Young, n.d.). This project can make the world a better place by reducing the amount of chemicals and microplastics from cigarette butts that are leached into the environment every day. Also, this project could save wildlife and animal lives, and can help reduce pollution in the environment (Young, n.d.). This is why my project is so important for the world.

I began my research by investigating a company called Terracycle, as I learned they are the only company in the world that recycles cigarettes (Terracycle, 2026). I researched this company by watching videos that explained the way that Terracycle recycles its cigarettes, and then I applied that process of recycling to my research. Another trustworthy research method I used was actually calling Terracycle itself to find out their process of recycling on a deeper level. I continued my research by looking into the components of a cigarette, like the cellulose acetate, the filters, and the paper and tobacco. Next, I researched the safest way to grind the cigarettes at home. With that, I wore a mask and gloves every time, and I experimented in a safe, well-ventilated area. I designed my method for testing my experiment by picking three grinders that I thought would work the best to turn a cigarette into a fibrous powder, including a blender, a slap chop, and a coffee grinder. The materials I used include gloves, masks, distilled water, a coffee grinder, a slap chop, a blender, coffee filters, and a large jar. I collected my data from this experience by judging how well of a fibre each machine made, and by how well it compares to Terracycle, making sure it would make or even exceed how well Terracycle obtained their powder. I tested each sample two times with each machine, giving me 6 tests in total. I controlled my variables by making sure I tested 20 cigarettes each time and using the blender and coffee grinder for 1 minute, and the slap chop for two. Through this process of research and testing, I was able to safely and effectively carry out my design process.

My project was to find the best and most affordable grinder to prepare previously smoked cigarettes for recycling. This grinder would be a strong representative for what could be done if this process were taken to an industrial level of recycling. I tested three different types of grinders, including a Slap Chop, a coffee grinder, and a blender. My finding was that the coffee grinder was the best overall. The coffee grinder was the most effective as it made a smooth, fibrous powder. This is important as the next step in the recycling process is melting this powder into a pellet. In order to have the powder melt smoothly and in a controlled manner, the cigarettes need to be turned into a fibrous, not a ropey, powder (Lubis et al., 2022). The blender was not effective as it was too aggressive a machine, making the powder closer to dust than fibres. Next, the Slap Chop was the worst grinder due to the fact that it is designed to only cut things that will break under pressure. This does not happen with cigarettes; they shifted under the blade, causing the slap chop to only strip away some of the paper. The problem with this is that it does not create the required powder; instead, it leaves the used cigarettes in their original form. My prototype works by grinding the cigarettes into the required type of powder. After this, I soaked them in water for 20 minutes. The reason for this is to create a sink float system. Specifically, the cellulose acetate, in the powder, will float to the top, then the paper and tobacco will sink to the bottom. Next, I let the wet powder dry for 24 hours, then I ground it again, leaving me with the prepped recycling material. In conclusion, I tested three different types of grinders to make a cigarette into a recyclable material to prove that Canada can and should expand on this idea at an industrial level.

My results are important as they show that it is possible for cigarettes to be easily turned into a recyclable powder with a simple machine, such as a coffee grinder. As a result, I believe my findings show that Canadian companies could use this data, expand on this idea, and create equipment to recycle cigarettes on an industrial level. Another reason my results are important is that many toxic chemicals are being leached into the soil and water every time a cigarette is littered; however, with a Canadian recycling company using my results, the amount of environmental damage done from used cigarettes could be decreased (Young, n.d.). In conclusion, these tests and the results I learned are significant because of the simplicity with which they could be replicated on a bigger scale and because of the way they can significantly reduce the pollutants in the environment. Indeed, my positive results show that this project does matter.

The biggest change and improvement I could have made in my experiment was the sink-float system. In some instances, some paper and tobacco did not fully disconnect from the filters. To improve this, I would try to let it separate longer. This would hopefully allow all of the paper and tobacco to settle to the bottom. The next step would be to turn the powder into a plastic. I would achieve that by soaking the powder in acetone, which would harden it into a plastic (Fenzo et al., 2020). This could then be used to create plastic lumber.

I want to say thank you to my family, friends, and teacher. Without these people, I would be nowhere near where I am today with the project. For instance, my Dad helped me go to the gas station and pick up all the cigarettes needed for my project. My mother helps with all my writing pieces and grammar. My teacher is also helping me at school with my board, or just giving me class time to work on my project. Finally, my friends helped me with my experiment, listened to my presentation, and gave me feedback. All these people are among the reasons I succeeded with my project.

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https://sites.ontariotechu.ca/ocis/sustainability/-archived/-archived-blog/blog-posts/blog-post-3.php