Write an article based on this summary:

Extinguish the cigarette by grinding out the flame. Move the cooled cigarette to a sturdy plastic bag. Store the plastic bag in a safe, dry spot. Collect at least 3 lb (1.4 kg) of cigarettes if possible.
For safety, extinguish cigarettes fully before attempting to recycle them. You can do this by throwing the cigarette on the ground, stepping on it, and twisting your foot. You should no longer see any glowing or smoke coming from the cigarette butt. If you have an ashtray, push the cigarette’s lit end into it until the heat and smoke stop. After you extinguish the cigarette, the filter should cool within a few minutes. Place it in a sturdy plastic bag or container. A thick garbage bag is a good choice since it is unlikely to rip or fall apart. Collect the cigarette filters in a plastic bag or container separate from other trash if you plan on recycling them. If you do not plan on recycling the filters right away, store the bag in an appropriate location. Mark the bag so it doesn’t accidently get thrown away with the rest of the trash. Keep it out of the rain and away from animals. Since recycling options usually have you ship the filters to them, it’s important to protect the bag. Shipping companies won’t take damaged or dripping waste bags. You will need over a thousand filters to reach this weight, so you may end up storing it for a while. Collecting discarded cigarettes or assembling a collection bin helps. Otherwise, you can try sending a lighter bag to the recycling company.  Recycling companies generally pay you $1 USD per pound for bags weighing at least 3 lb (1.4 kg). You can always send smaller amounts of filters. However, it’s more efficient to wait until you have a bigger collection.