Green Sets - Partnerships
CIGARETTE BUTT RECYCLING
BUTTS ARE TOXIC!
Cigarettes are not only a well-known public health hazard but also create waste disposal problems. Butts make up nearly 30% of waste strewn on public property. They contain nicotine and hazardous materials that dissolve and pollute waterways and the entire ecosystem. These toxic, carcinogenic chemicals become even more dangerous when burned.
The microplastics in cigarette filters are causing significant harm to oceans and rivers. Concentrations in the St. Lawrence River are as high as in the most contaminated marine sediments in the world.
MÉGOT ZÉRO SOLVES THE BUTT PROBLEM
SAESEM has developed the Mégot Zéro program to help control the environmental damage from cigarette butts and put them to good use. The program reduces the environmental impact of cigarette butts by recycling this “non-recyclable” material into street furniture and industrial pallets. The tobacco and paper are transformed into industrial-grade compost.
SINCE 2016, MORE THAN 6 MILLION BUTTS HAVE BEEN RECYCLED AND NOT RELEASED INTO THE ENVIRONMENT.
The Mégot Zéro program offers services tailored to film sets. AQTIS 514 IATSE has therefore partnered with SAESEM, the organization behind the Mégot Zéro program. It's part of our effort to help green our sets and reduce our industry's carbon footprint. As every little bit counts, we have acquired 4 Mégot Zéro ashtrays and they are available on loan to our members. We hope this will help you encourage your productions to go green. Mégot Zéro's other services are available to our members at reduced rates.
MÉGOT ZÉRO'S SERVICES
SAESEM offers a secure storage service at no charge for the ashtrays purchased by AQTIS 514 IATSE. These ashtrays bear our logo. You will need to reserve by email or phone and sign a loan agreement.
The ashtrays loaned to set managers can be returned directly to SAESEM or can be picked up from the set.
The pick-up services provided by Mégot Zéro are at the production's expense, as is replacement of the ashtrays loaned by AQTIS 514 IATSE in the event of breakage.
PICK-UP OPTIONS
SAESEM offers a turnkey pick-up service that includes emptying of the ashtrays by the Mégot Zéro team at a frequency based on your needs.
The pick-up is done in a manner that is safe for SAESEM employees and the environment.
The process is totally carbon neutral. Depending on the location of the pick-up, it is done on foot, by bicycle or by electric car.
The full ashtrays are picked up from the set when the shoot is finished.
SAESEM offers a hybrid pick-up service in which a butt storage barrel is delivered to the site and the ashtrays are emptied into it by your team.
When the barrel is full, the Mégot Zéro team will replace it with an empty one, at a frequency based on your needs.
The replacement of the barrel is done in a totally carbon neutral way, by electric car.
Barrel specs
• 16 gallons, open top, unlined
• Resistant to extreme temperatures, from -34ºC to 121ºC
• Equipped with a 2" opening for emptying pocket ashtrays and a ¾" opening for venting as needed
• Weighs about 17 lbs
• Cover is 14 7/8" in diameter (outside)
• 26 1/2" high
• Removable lid with sealing ring
• Bears the Mégot Zéro logo
Storage
The barrel should be kept in a secure place to prevent theft. The lid must be tightly closed for fire safety and to keep odours from escaping. Always make sure butts are extinguished before placing them in the barrel. The barrel should not be used as an ashtray.
Theft or breakage
In the event of theft, breakage or premature rust due to improper storage, Mégot Zéro reserves the right to charge you for the loss of effectiveness or usefulness of its equipment, up to the replacement cost.
Health and safety
Tobacco residues and cigarette filters contain significant amounts of toxic and carcinogenic compounds (which become even more dangerous when burned). They contain arsenic, nicotine and metals such as lead, copper, chromium, cadmium and cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (organic materials that have a devastating effect on the proteins and DNA of living organisms). Finally, benzene and formaldehyde, two known carcinogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are also present..
As a precaution to protect the health of its employees, the Mégot Zéro program treats exposure to burned cigarette butts as just as hazardous as exposure to second-hand smoke, since the toxins in cigarettes are volatile, adhere to surfaces such as carpets, curtains, clothing, food and furniture, and remain trapped for a long time. SAESEM therefore disclaims any liability for careless handling of cigarette butts by other employees, such as opening the barrel in an indoor workplace, or leaving a bag of cigarette butts in the workplace without an airtight container.
SAESEM recommends opening the barrel outdoors, wearing a mask with an air filter. Do not leave the barrel open in an enclosed area.
If you choose the hybrid service, you must undertake to take all necessary precautions to avoid the spread of VOCs from cigarette butts in the workplace and in the area where the barrel is stored, and to inform users of the procedures.
PROCESSING AND SHIPPING OF CIGARETTE BUTTS
Mégot Zéro looks after shipping the butts to its recycling partner in Canada, including inspection of the collected materials to limit the presence of contaminants and preparation of the packages in a secure environment.
AWARENESS - SIGNS AND POSTERS AVAILABLE
Clear signage is recommended. It should be strategically placed on the set to direct smokers to the Mégot Zéro ashtrays and identify the devices that have been installed.
PRICING FOR PARTNERS
The ashtrays belonging to AQTIS 514 IATSE will be loaned to you free of charge.
The other services offered at reduced rates to our members must be paid for by the production.
To reserve : megot_zero@saesem.org
More information : https://megotzero.com
SAESEM / Éco-Quartier de Peter McGill
1240 Saint-Marc St - Montréal, H3H 2E5
T : 514 933-1069