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How to Make a Cigarette Butt Receptacle

Faith Chandler

Rather than littering the ground, make your own one-of-a-kind cigarette butt receptacle. Create a butt catcher for inside or outside use -- even for the beach!

Cigarette ashtray.

Soda Can Cigarette Ashtray

Consider using the classic cigarette ashtray to hold the remains of your smoke break. Cut off the top of an empty soda can about half an inch down. Cut vertical slits into the can about 1 inch apart down to about 1 inch from the bottom of the can. Fold the strips outwards at a 90-degree angle. Fold one strip diagonally on itself and slide it under the metal strip to the right. Repeat with the strip to the right and so on around the can base. Turn over and fold the ends of the strips back on themselves to secure. Trim excess metal with the scissors.

Outdoor Flower Pot Receptacle

The outdoor receptacle for cigarette butts has to be durable and large enough to hold waste from several smokers -- or just one smoker taking several breaks. An easy flower pot receptacle fulfills those requirements. Just purchase a terracotta flower pot with the matching base plate. Make sure that the flower pot has that small drainage hole in the bottom of it. Turn the pot upside down onto the base plate. Smokers can drop their used cigarette butts into the receptacle through the small drainage hole. This is easy to empty into a garbage can by lifting up the pot and dumping out the contents.

Small Portable Buckets

Sometimes, smokers like to be on the move while taking their smoke break. A portable receptacle may even be needed for a setting such as the beach. Take a mini metal or even plastic toy bucket with you to the beach. Fill it halfway full with some sand and plant it firmly in the beach. Put out your cigarettes in the bucket and toss the waste in the garbage when ready to leave.

Recycled Cigarette Holder

A recycled cigarette receptacle is perfect for smokers on tight budgets. A 2-liter bottle is lightweight and can hold a lot of waste. Cut off the top of an empty 2-liter soda bottle about 3 inches down. Turn the top of the bottle upside down and place it inside the bottom of the 2-liter bottle. Tape in place around the two cut edges. The top of the bottle serves as a funnel for cigarette butts and ash. The bottom of the bottle serves as the trash receptacle. Throw it out when it's full and then make another.