Cigarette butts are often discarded without thought, but thanks to a unique program that tiny plastic filter could have a new lease on inanimate life as a plastic pallet in a factory.

The new innovative eco-program designed by TerraCycle Canada is called Cigarette Waste Brigade. The smoker simply collects all parts of the extinguished cigarette, including the filter, outer plastic packaging, inner foil packaging and rolling paper – even the remaining ash – then packages it all up and mails it to TerraCycle.

As of June 25, 2012 more than 5,700 units have been collected from 81 different locations, according to company officials.

For every pound (453.6 g) of cigarette waste that an individual, school or company sends to TerraCycle, 100 TerraCycle points can be redeemed for a variety of charitable gifts, or for a payment of $0.01 per point to a charity selected by the donor.

Nearly $6,000 has been raised so far, according to TerraCycle.

“As a company committed to recycling waste streams that others deem worthless or unsavoury, cigarette waste will help to promote our belief that everything can and should be recycled,” TerraCycle Founder Tom Szaky announced to media.

According to TerraCycle, cigarette filters were the number one item recovered during the annual Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup in 2011, with 351,238 collected.

The waste collected through Cigarette Waste Brigade will be recycled into plastic pallets for industrial use. TerraCycle noted that this will reduce the litter in Canada, while also reducing the need to use wood or virgin plastic to make industrial pallets. The organic parts of the cigarette – the paper and remaining tobacco – will be composted, the company says.

TerraCycle does not accept the cardboard box that holds the cigarettes. That packaging should be recycled through municipal programs.