Innovative Upcycled Bricks

Recycling cigarette butts in an effective and sustainable way is a burning concern for many cities, especially when considering the statistics. It is estimated that “over six trillion cigarettes are produced each year globally, resulting in 1.2. Million tons of toxic waste dumped into the environment.” To solve this problem, RMIT University researchers are proposing a step-by-step plan for recycling cigarette butts and transforming them into bricks.

In addition to being environmentally friendly, the process is also cost-effective. Lead researcher Associate Professor Abbas Mohajerani shared that "Firing butts into bricks is a reliable and practical way to deal with this terrible environmental problem, while at the same time cutting brickmaking production costs."

The proposed plan is published in a special issue of journal Materials and shows “how cigarette butts can be collected and recycled on an industrial scale.”

Image Credit: RMIT University