Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Knightshade® and what nicotine products are accepted?
- Why is nicotine a problem from a regulatory perspective?
- Why should I use Knightshade?
- Who is g2 revolution®?
- How do I return the Knightshade collection container for processing?
- What is the process that Knightshade uses to reclaim the nicotine?
- Is the Knightshade recycling process approved by the EPA?
- Where is the Knightshade recycling process offered?
- Is there a cost advantage for me to use Knightshade for recycling nicotine-containing products?
- What things should I consider in order to estimate my savings if I recycle nicotine-containing products with Knightshade?
Q: What is Knightshade and what nicotine products are accepted?
A: Knightshade is a proprietary recycling process to help businesses manage expired, damaged or recalled
over-the-counter nicotine containing products such as gum, patches, lozenges, e-liquids and e-cigarettes.
Q: Why is nicotine a problem from a regulatory perspective?
A: Pharmacies, convenience stores, grocers, specialty shops and other businesses that handle these items
have to consider how to comply with federal and state hazardous waste regulations. These
nicotine-containing products, when expired, damaged or recalled, are usually regulated as "acute"
hazardous waste by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
A business only needs to generate 2.2 pounds (1kg) of waste nicotine-containing products in one month to trigger requirements to become a federal "Large Quantity Generator" of hazardous waste. That can cause a number of other expensive environmentally regulatory requirements to kick in — extra training, federal identifications numbers, formal contingency plans and many other actions that must be taken to comply. EPA fines for non-compliance can be significant.
Fortunately, the Knightshade process can potentially help you avoid a lot of these liabilities!
Q: Why should I use Knightshade?
A: The Knightshade nicotine recovery process allows off-spec, expired, damaged or recalled items to be
handled as raw materials for our recycling process instead of as hazardous waste. This can mean a
reduction in your hazardous waste generation, potentially reducing your compliance requirements and even
your "regulatory radar profile" with environmental agencies.
Since the nicotine is recovered and the components are recycled, you can boast about what you are doing from an environmental sustainability perspective as well.
Q: Who is g2 revolution?
A: g2 revolution is the exclusive, independent marketer and distributor for the Knightshade
recycling process.
Q: How do I return the Knightshade collection container for processing?
A: The container will need a pickup scheduled through the g2 Customer Service team. Please contact
customerservice@g2rev.com to schedule an LTL pickup.
Buckets cannot be returned through UPS or FedEx because of regulations.
Q: What is the process that Knightshade uses to reclaim the
nicotine?
A: Knightshade has engineered an exclusive process for the reclamation of nicotine from
these products. To learn more about this process, please contact g2 revolution by clicking
here.
Q: Is the Knightshade recycling process approved by the EPA?
A: You are expected to know the regulations for managing your products at end-of-life and develop
systems that comply with them, even when recycling. Don't let anyone fool you — the EPA does not
endorse recycling programs — but the agency can
provide an interpretation of the regulations that might apply to recycling. In fact,
there are EPA rules that can be used to recycle a nicotine-containing product in compliance with the law
so as to not treat the product as waste — the hard part is figuring out how to do it!
That's where Knightshade comes in: The Knightshade recycling process has been engineered by environmental professionals and chemists with significant experience dealing with complex EPA regulations impacting the industry. Please click here to see the EPA's letter with respect to the Knightshade process.
Q: Is there a cost advantage for me to use Knightshade for recycling
nicotine-containing products?
A:The Knightshade recycling process for nicotine-containing products may reduce your hazardous waste
costs.
If your current generator status is Large Quantity Generator due to the generation of nicotine-containing products, the implementation of the Knightshade recycling process could reduce that hazardous waste generator status.
Q: What things should I consider in order to estimate my savings if I
recycle nicotine-containing products with Knightshade?
A: The following savings may be realized by reducing your hazardous waste generation and
status:
- Additional costs for having to ship hazardous waste every 90 to 180 days when nicotine-containing waste is driving Large Quantity Generator or Small Quantity Generator status. (Estimated $500 to $1,000 annually per location)
- Additional costs for compliance and regulatory filings stemming from Small Quantity Generator or Large Quantity Generator status, such as additional regulatory fees, hazardous waste manifests, annual or biennial reporting, implementing contingency plans, etc., due to generation of nicotine-containing hazardous waste. (Estimated $1,000 to $2,000 annually per location)
- Increased training costs, especially to comply with Large Quantity Generator status requirements. (Estimated $200-$500 annually per location)
Potential annual savings per location $1,700 — $3,500.