New Report Urges Ban on Disposable Vape Products
Credit: Iama Sing
The only solution to curb the plastic and battery waste created by disposable vaping products is to ban the products entirely, according to a report released Tuesday from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) Education Fund.
“It doesn’t make any sense to manufacture electronics with rechargeable batteries, ship them across the world, and throw them out within a few days,” the report states.
The report explores the environmental impacts of disposable products and found that the devices are difficult to recycle properly due to a lack of infrastructure and regulation around e-waste recycling.
Disposable vaping devices also contain lithium-ion batteries as well as small plastic parts. They also contain nicotine, which is considered a toxic chemical.
“According to CDC Foundation sales estimates, lining up the disposable vapes sold in a year would stretch for 7,000 miles—long enough to span the continental U.S. twice,” a PIRG report states. “This vape waste is becoming more common while cigarette butts become less common as the trash that litters our beaches and waterways.”
The report advocates for federal and state legislation banning or restricting disposable vapes to keep them out of landfills and waterways and prevent fires.
It also calls for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to make enforcement of vape marketing restrictions a priority, particularly for disposable products.