Beyond the ban, the strategy
Legislative Decree No. 6 of January 12, 2016, marked a fundamental step in protecting against secondhand smoke, extending the ban to hospital premises. However, field experience shows that prohibition alone is not always sufficient to eliminate the problem. Without active management, the risk is that the phenomenon will spread to unsupervised critical areas, resulting in the uncontrolled littering of cigarette butts and the deterioration of common areas.
The Meyer Children's Hospital in Florence, a leading international provider of child care, has chosen to address this challenge with a pragmatic and innovative approach: mindful space management.
The solution: dedicated areas and orientation
Instead of limiting itself to purely punitive signs, Meyer has implemented a nudging model :
- Protected smoking areas: creation of dedicated, covered, and safe spaces, strategically positioned away from access points and sensitive areas frequented by young patients.
- Signage as a guide: The no smoking sign is no longer a wall, but an orientation tool that shows the smoker the direction to the correct area.
- Protection of non-smokers: By physically removing emissions from the entrances, we ensure better air quality and fully respect the freedom of non-smokers.
The partnership with Re-Cig: from waste to resource
Re-Cig fits into this virtuous ecosystem. The goal is not only to maintain decorum, but to close the loop on the circular economy. The collected cigarette butts don't end up in landfills or the environment, but are sent through a patented transformation process.
The results: the project's impact (June 2025 – March 2026)
In less than a year of collaboration, the data confirm the effectiveness of the model adopted by Meyer.
| Indicator | Value achieved |
|---|---|
| Recovered waste | 45,74 kg of cigarette butts |
| Units removed from the environment | Over 152.000 cigarettes |
| New matter produced (Re-ca) | 17,84 kg of plastic polymers |
| CO2 emissions avoided | 160,57 kg |
A replicable model
The model adopted by Meyer profoundly redefines the concept of environmental protection in the healthcare sector, transforming regulatory compliance into a competitive and social advantage. We are no longer faced with mere legal obligations, but with an integrated strategy in which service design, carefully positioned smoking areas, and cutting-edge recovery technologies come together to ensure clean air, decorum, and greater health safety.
The project's success is based on three fundamental pillars that make it a standardizable and replicable format for any healthcare company or public body:
- The evolution of the ban: Go beyond the logic of sanctions as an end in themselves to offer a dignified logistical alternative that discourages the abandonment of cigarette butts in the environment.
- Active protection: Protect the health rights of non-smokers by creating "bubbles" away from main entrances, drastically reducing exposure to secondhand smoke in sensitive areas.
- The valorization of waste: Thanks to the partnership with Re-Cig, cigarette butts are diverted from the unsorted waste cycle. The measurable data, including CO2 saved and plastic produced, provides facilities with a transparent and certified sustainability report.
The Meyer model is today proof that a lower-impact healthcare system is possible, necessary, and, above all, already achievable.
