ACOSTA: Take a look as you walk down many streets you'll probably see a cigarette butt. Some new ideas could help make this common trash a valuable commodity. Gary Tuchman has the story in today's "Edge of Discovery."</s>GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Blake Burich spends weeks working in his garage. The project? He's trying to put the unsightly problem of discarded cigarette butts to good use.</s>BLAKE BURICH, PATENT HOLDER: One bounced off my windshield while I was driving. There's got to be something we can do with these. It's just a huge problem</s>TUCHMAN: Burich collects the butts, peels away the paper and tobacco and mixes what's left of the filter with a homemade solvent.</s>BURICH: The process is very brief. From beginning to end it would take about 15 minutes at the most.</s>TUCHMAN: After the material soaks, Burich says the silly-putty- like substance can be used to protect against corrosion or reinforce materials like the pipes in your house. And Burich isn't the only one hoping to see more green along the streets. New York Assemblyman Mike Dendekker has introduced a bill proposing a cigarette recycling program for his state.</s>MICHAEL DENDEKKER, NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY: I think it's about time we got responsible on this particular issue and try to work to find a worldwide recycling solution.</s>TUCHMAN: The bill is only in the beginning stages now but could require deposits on cigarettes similar to a bottle deposit. Gary Tuchman, CNN.</s>ACOSTA: Well, here's a question you probably have not considered -- why did the turtle cross the road? A better question, how did he avoid getting flattened like a pancake? We'll have this story and more in our "Water Cooler" segment. That is coming up.
New Solution Can Make Use Of Discarded Cigarette Butts