Recycling cigarette butts in India - in pictures

  • Workers sort cigarette butts at the Code Effort recycling factory near the Indian capital New Delhi. All photos: Taniya Dutta for The National
    Workers sort cigarette butts at the Code Effort recycling factory near the Indian capital New Delhi. All photos: Taniya Dutta for The National
  • Naman Gupta, 28, at the gate of the factory, which he started with his elder brother
    Naman Gupta, 28, at the gate of the factory, which he started with his elder brother
  • Batches of cigarette butts await processing outside the factory, in Nangli village, Noida
    Batches of cigarette butts await processing outside the factory, in Nangli village, Noida
  • Mr Gupta is on a mission to keep cigarette butts, which have filters made of cellulose acetate and contain toxic chemicals absorbed from cigarette smoke, out of the environment
    Mr Gupta is on a mission to keep cigarette butts, which have filters made of cellulose acetate and contain toxic chemicals absorbed from cigarette smoke, out of the environment
  • The recycling process begins with cutting up the butts to separate the paper, tobacco and filters
    The recycling process begins with cutting up the butts to separate the paper, tobacco and filters
  • A worker pours water into a drum filled with filters after they are manually cleaned of tobacco and paper residue
    A worker pours water into a drum filled with filters after they are manually cleaned of tobacco and paper residue
  • A worker puts soaked cigarette filters into a shredding machine
    A worker puts soaked cigarette filters into a shredding machine
  • Water is poured into the shredding machine to create a pulp
    Water is poured into the shredding machine to create a pulp
  • The filter pulp is put in an industrial dryer after being treated with chemicals to remove toxins
    The filter pulp is put in an industrial dryer after being treated with chemicals to remove toxins
  • Water used in the filter-cleaning process is recycled while the toxins extracted are neutralised
    Water used in the filter-cleaning process is recycled while the toxins extracted are neutralised
  • Once the pulp is dry, it is put through a carding machine to create fluffy fibres that can be used as stuffing
    Once the pulp is dry, it is put through a carding machine to create fluffy fibres that can be used as stuffing
  • A Code Effort employee folds paper made from recycled cigarette butts into a bag
    A Code Effort employee folds paper made from recycled cigarette butts into a bag
  • Stirring a compost pit made of tobacco separated from cigarettes butts
    Stirring a compost pit made of tobacco separated from cigarettes butts
  • A woman knits soft toys that will be filled with stuffing made from processed cigarette filters
    A woman knits soft toys that will be filled with stuffing made from processed cigarette filters
  • The soft toys are sold directly online and to companies
    The soft toys are sold directly online and to companies