How to Buy a Cigarette Receptacle | Buying Guide

1. Ash Urns (Butt Urns)

Cigarette ash urns have open trays filled with sand, silica pebbles, or similar material. While they are typically stand alone units, they are also often attached to the side of a trash receptacle. Lit cigarette butts are quickly extinguished as a result from the diminished oxygen supply as the burning end is submerged into the fill sand or silica pebbles. The urn also provides a visible and easily identifiable safe collection point for the discarded ashes and finished cigarette butts.

Discouraging undesirable waste from being disposed of into the cigarette receptacle should not be overlooked. Undesirable waste materials present potential clogging and flammability issues. One popular method to help prevent this activity is to engineer the disposal slot design so it is just big enough to allow cigarette waste to enter, but not too small discourage use.

Additional enhancements developed for the disposal opening are snuff screens, which provide a safe and hygienic target to extinguish cigarettes. The screen minimizes smoldering and increases proper insertion of cigarette waste into the receptacle that results in a cleaner look and more attractive smoking area overall.

Smokers have a tendency to not fully extinguish their cigarette butts before discarding them into a receptacle. This can lead to potential fire hazards in and around smoking areas. Smoking receptacle designs use several engineering tactics to combat this potential threat. Fire has three contributing factors heat, fuel and oxygen. Take away any one of the three and a fire can not exist. The most feasible principle to control is the restriction of oxygen or suffocation.

Maintenance of cigarette receptacles can play a vital role in the safety of a smoking area. Eventually the receptacle must be emptied, and maintenance capabilities will help dictate the best type of receptacle for the area. High volume areas may require a higher rate maintenance frequency or maybe larger capacity receptacles. Some receptacles are available with a trap door for easy access to the collection pail, others offer easy disassembly or simple cap removal to gain access for waste removal. Ash urn sand can be sifted through to retrieve waste and then reused.

The major idea is to encourage proper cigarette waste disposal to keep the smoking area ash and butt free, but also minimize unwanted flammable waste to reduce the chance of fire hazard.

With the evolving changes in smoking laws, smoking areas are becoming more and more prevalent in and around public access areas. Places where smokers congregate can vary depending upon the facility. Each various situation will obviously have a direct effect on the requirements for the cigarette receptacle. Some environments may require the receptacle to be versatile and have mobility; others might need to be weighted down, while some could require a complete and total lock down.

Most cigarette receptacle options available in today’s market are light weight aside from those made from concrete. Manufactures have built-in features for those who want a little more tipping resistance with options varying from a molded in brick cradle to accessorial hardware hold down kits.

Pails

Steel collection pails in a size and capacity to match the cigarette receptacle are available as part of the unit, and as replacement pieces.

Odor-Absorbing & Fire Suppressing Filters

Some cigarette receptacle collection pails accommodate a filter, which fits inside the pail. This filter uses a combination of baking soda (odor control) and release of CO2 (fire suppression).

Disposable Bucket Liners

Just twist, tie, and toss these fire resistant poly liner bags specially designed for use inside a smokerstation.

Attachable Signs

Some receptacles have designated spaces for attaching signage. "No Smoking", "Smoking Area" and "Thank You" direct smokers to the receptacle. Custom-made signs and logos can help reinforce your brand or establishment.

How many smokers will be using the area will equate to a certain volume of cigarette waste, thus requiring the waste be cleared at a balanced rate. The frequency of maintenance required will also greatly depend upon the capacity of your cigarette receptacle(s).