The environmental impact from e-cigarettes

Vapes are harmful to your health and our environment. Many vapes are disposed of in landfill or simply discarded in the environment where they pollute our waterways and land with plastics, chemicals and electronic waste. E-cigarettes contain many different parts, and only some components can be recycled, whilst others are single use and generate large amounts of waste, so the best thing you can do for the environment is to not vape.

Plastic Waste: E-cigarette devices and single-use pods are primarily made of plastic, which takes hundreds of years to decompose. These plastics often end up in landfills or waterways, where they can harm wildlife and ecosystems and contributes to the growing problem of plastic pollution.

Chemical Waste: E-liquids contain nicotine and other toxic chemicals that are classified as hazardous waste. When these substances are improperly disposed of, they can contaminate soil and water, posing risks to both human health and the environment. The chemicals in e-liquids are particularly harmful to aquatic life, leading to potential disruptions in ecosystems.

Electronic Waste: E-cigarettes are powered by lithium-ion batteries, which are hazardous when disposed of improperly. These batteries can cause fires in landfills and release harmful substances into the environment. The improper disposal of e-cigarette batteries contributes to the growing issue of electronic waste, which poses significant environmental and health risks.

E-cigarettes are harmful to our environment and despite our best intentions e-cigarettes are difficult to dispose of in a safe manner. All waste damages our environment and the only way to ensure we are playing our role in protecting the environment is to reduce our waste altogether by choosing not to vape. Contact Quitline – 13 QUIT (13 7848) for advice, tips and strategies to quit vaping or visit quit.org.au For information about looking after your lungs visit Lung Foundation’s website www.lungfoundation.com.au