Vaping and the Environment: A Call for Responsible Harm Reduction

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Key Points:

• New Research: Circular Vape Recycle study examines the environmental impact of vaping devices, offering the most comprehensive analysis to date.

• Global Context: Belgium, France, and the UK have banned disposable vapes, citing youth use and environmental harm.

• Key Findings: Vape waste contains plastics, lithium-ion batteries, and nicotine, creating long-term pollution and disposal challenges.

• Awareness Gap: International survey shows most users toss devices in regular trash and lack access to recycling programs or disposal guidance.

• System Failures: Weak recycling infrastructure, regulatory loopholes, and missing disposal instructions worsen the problem.

• Call to Action: Education campaigns, retailer take-back programs, and manufacturer requirements could reduce waste – without resorting to bans

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A new research study is examining a critical and often neglected component of tobacco harm reduction: the environmental impact of vaping devices. The study was conducted by Circular Vape Recycle, a global research initiative founded by Argentinian advocate Aylèn Van Isseldyk and co-authored by Juan Facundo Teme, who also serves as the project’s co-founder. In addition to publishing a comprehensive environmental assessment on SSRN, Circular Vape Recycle developed a multilingual international survey, conducted a literature review on environmental science, regulations, and tobacco harm reduction, and engaged in global outreach through in-person events and ongoing media campaigns.

This research is both welcome and urgently needed. As single-use disposable vapes flood global markets, a growing number of countries have turned to bans – often citing environmental concerns as justification. In December 2024, Belgium became the first country in the world to ban disposable vapes, framing the move as a way to combat youth use and “protect the environment.” France followed in February 2025, with its Minister of Labor declaring the ban would reduce the country’s environmental footprint and encourage more responsible consumption. In June, the United Kingdom also banned disposable vape sales, labeling them “environmentally destructive.”

While the rise in single-use vaping devices has sparked real concern over their environmental toll, the academic research examining these impacts has been limited – until now. The Circular Vape Recycle study offers an extensive analysis of how these products contribute to composite waste. Vaping devices often contain plastic, electronic components, and chemical substances like nicotine, all in a single unit, which complicates their disposal. Plastics can degrade into microplastics, contaminating soil and water for years. Lithium-ion batteries, if improperly discarded, can leak toxic chemicals and pose fire hazards.

Importantly, the study draws from the ethical principles of the 2005 Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights, advocating for informed consumer autonomy, adherence to the principle of non-maleficence (do no harm), promotion of beneficence (environmental well-being), and environmental justice. These bioethical principles guide the study’s call for integrating environmental responsibility into harm reduction strategies.

To better understand public awareness and behavior, the researchers conducted a 24-question, cross-sectional international survey. The survey included a diverse pool of participants from multiple countries and continents, ranging from non-users to regular vapers. The results reveal a troubling lack of awareness around vape waste. A significant number of participants reported disposing of used devices, pods, and batteries in regular trash. Very few were aware of or had access to dedicated recycling programs.

Participants also tended to underestimate the environmental consequences of vape waste, including plastic pollution, nicotine leachate, and battery toxicity. Many indicated that vape retailers offered no information about proper disposal or recycling programs, although they expressed a willingness to receive such guidance. Across all regions, respondents reported a general lack of accessible information about appropriate disposal methods, recycling locations, and the real environmental impact of improper vape waste management.

The study identified several systemic contributors to the problem. There is a glaring lack of recycling infrastructure, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Regulatory gaps – including the exclusion of vaping devices from electronic waste laws – further perpetuate confusion. Additionally, many vape products lack disposal instructions or environmental warnings on their packaging.

The findings underscore the urgent need for reform. Environmental education campaigns targeted at e-cigarette users could raise awareness about the risks and promote responsible behavior. Vape retailers can play a more active role by initiating take-back or recycling programs. Governments can require manufacturers to provide clear disposal instructions and identify the environmental hazards associated with their products. The survey makes it clear that consumers are willing to act more responsibly, but current systems make doing so unnecessarily difficult.

The continued work of Circular Vape Recycle will be vital in bridging these knowledge and infrastructure gaps. Through global events, educational outreach, and advocacy, the initiative is helping both consumers and policymakers recognize that there are better solutions than bans alone.

As a harm reduction tool, e-cigarettes have the potential to significantly reduce the billions of toxic cigarette butts discarded each year. But in order for them to truly support public health and environmental sustainability, they must be used – and managed – responsibly

Nothing in this analysis is intended to influence the passage of legislation, and it does not necessarily represent the views of Tobacco Harm Reduction 101.