What can I do to help reduce TEC waste?
To reduce TEC waste, you can take the following actions:
- Proper Disposal: Dispose of cigarette butts, vape cartridges, and cannabis packaging properly in designated bins or recycling facilities.
- Encourage Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Advocate for policies that shift the responsibility of TEC waste management from consumers to manufacturers. Support initiatives that require producers to manage the entire lifecycle of their products, including take-back programs or recycling efforts. This can incentivize companies to design products that are more durable and recyclable.
- Support Policy Change: Push for policy changes that hold producers accountable for their waste. Support legislation that reduces single-use plastics in packaging and encourages the redesign of tobacco products to minimize litter, such as removing cigarette filters to reduce plastic pollution from TEC waste.
- Spread Awareness: Educate others on the importance of holding tobacco companies accountable for the waste they produce. Advocate for environmentally conscious consumer choices and policies that push the industry toward more sustainable solutions.
The iKickButts app is a valuable tool for tracking and monitoring TEC waste in your local community. By using the app, you can record TEC waste data and share it with local elected officials, helping to drive policy changes and promote a cleaner, more sustainable community.
Note: “TEC Waste” refers to the non-biodegradable and toxic waste generated by smoked, heated, and smokeless tobacco (T), electronic smoking/vaping devices (E), and cannabis (C) products.