Plastic Bottle Self Extinguishing Ashtray

Two wrongs make a sorta right--recycle a plastic bottle as a smoke-catching, self extinguishing ashtray.

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Step 1:

Start with a 1 liter plastic bottle

shooby says: Feb 2, 2009. 11:53 AM

Not a bad idea at all. This cold be made way more compact as well, if you cut the threaded part from the bottle, and lowered the whole thing. Of course, a smoke catching ashtray is a little redundant, after smoking inside. After all, you could just extinguish the cig in the sand. Never the less, good idea.

GfromKC (author) in reply to shoobyFeb 3, 2009. 6:49 PM

Actually, if it were more compact, it wouldn't work--to catch the smoke, the bottle opening has to be low in the bottle, with upper space for the smoke to rise. The lower opening is also what causes the oxygen level to drop as the butt burns inside. Right you are about the smoke! One benefit, though, is that it contains the pee-yew smell of the butts. Last year I made about 6 of these and lined them up outside for my hopeless smoking friends... no cleanup for me!

shooby in reply to GfromKCFeb 3, 2009. 8:01 PM

Wait wait wait! You just throw these things away after using them?

GfromKC (author) in reply to shoobyFeb 7, 2009. 2:36 PM

When I said "no cleanup for me" I meant no ashtray to wash (yea, saves water!). Just pull the thing apart, empty and recycle as usual.

shooby in reply to GfromKCFeb 7, 2009. 3:07 PM

Is that a "yes" or a "no"? Do you really think the water it takes to clean an ashtray is equivalent to the water it takes to manufacture the tape that you're disposing of with the bottle?

GfromKC (author) in reply to shoobyFeb 7, 2009. 4:19 PM

Apparently you've never cleaned an ashtray. I'm afraid you might go on with this indefinately, so I give. Better to just grind them out on the ground. And before you ask I am unaware of any way to recycle the butts. Thanks for in the input, please feel free to move along to someone else's project now.

mdavis6 in reply to GfromKCMay 26, 2011. 12:20 PM

Responsible Smokers Act is joining with InnovaGreen Systems to make Ashtrays from Cigarette Butts!

pyra_builder_1337 in reply to GfromKCSep 9, 2009. 3:19 PM

smoke handrolled w/o filters and roach like you would a joint

nadejaa says: Mar 31, 2011. 10:06 PM

cool

biofueljunke says: Mar 1, 2010. 1:17 PM

im gona make a bunch and put them around the next block party on my street so all the smokers stop flicking butts all over... because my street drains go directly to waterways that lead to drinking water

parkmana says: Sep 16, 2009. 6:35 PM

Baking soda gives off large amounts of CO2 when heated. Use that instead of sand.

somuchdepth in reply to parkmanaDec 5, 2009. 8:27 AM

Interesting...baking soda really does wonders...
but why would we want to give off CO2??

parkmana in reply to somuchdepthDec 5, 2009. 11:34 PM

Because CO2 extinguishes Class-A fires.
CO2 is also useful in horticulture; it makes green plants grow more, faster, healthier (without CO2, green plants wither).

somuchdepth says: Dec 5, 2009. 8:35 AM

I luv this idea!

pyra_builder_1337 says: Sep 9, 2009. 3:17 PM

one step better put water in the bottom puts it out so no smoke is created

randla says: Jul 4, 2009. 5:08 AM

Great idea! I also admire the last comment you made to end the "attacks". I totally understand where you are coming from with this idea. There is not much worse than a dirty, stinking ashtray. Also, they are just not practical outside. I use the kitty litter in small buckets for outside smoking, but never thought of this! I'm going to try it. Thanks for posting it!